Can the Cincinnati Bengals Return to a Playoff Pace?

The Cincinnati Bengals are one of the teams that is expected to make its way to the top of the league once more if given the chance to be fully healthy. But can the team actually find its way back into the playoff mix after a discouraging season that has been full of struggles and tough finishes for the team?

Joe Burrow and the rest of the gang are eager to run it back as the Bengals hope to finish what they have started and finally regain their composure as one of the top contenders in the Super Bowl. We have seen how the team has struggled hard in the past campaign with a lot of injuries abound the squad, but now that this is another season to look out for, can the Bengals make the most of their chances? Let us discuss their title hopes and how they can actually return to a playoff pace again.

What are the Stakes for the Bengals this Season?

After five years of no appearances in the playoffs, the Bengals suddenly came up with a wonder run in the 2021 season where they ended up losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl LVI. That was a season to remember as the team suddenly had hopes to become a contender in the game, and it was also the same year that Ja’Marr Chase was named the Rookie of the Year, while Joe Burrow won the Comeback Player of the Year award for his outstanding performances.

The Bengals have bigger stakes than critics can imagine image

Yet after another tough string in 2022 and 2023, it seems that the Bengals are back to the drawing board once more, and now they are hoping to find their way back to the top of the league where they hope to make history. After finishing with a 9-8 record last season, the disappointment is definitely starting to set in for the Bengals, and many fans are left with a bitter taste after two straight playoff runs in the NFL.

This season is a chance for them to prove their dominance image

So yes, there are definitely bigger stakes in the coming season for the Bengals. This is why many fans should consider looking out for the team as they hope to make history once more and deliver a promising season to remember. But now that the NFL season is about to begin in a few months’ time, it is easy to say that it is time for the Bengals to prove their worth in the game now more than ever.

What Makes the Bengals a Playoff Contender?

Believe it or not, the past three years have established the Bengals as a primary contender to look out for in the NFL. Of course, 2021 was a landmark year for them to be considered as a team to look out for, while 2022 was the campaign that cemented their status as one of the hot picks to look out for in the AFC. The 2023 season proved to be a learning curve for the team as they had to know more about themselves as a team especially when they missed out on some of their best players, which had a total of seven players on the injury list.

So what makes the Bengals a contender for the coming season?

Joe Burrow's Return to the Roster

Joe Burrow is back and ready to roll image

After a tough campaign in the 2023 season that resulted in him playing just a total of 10 games, Burrow is now ready to come back onto the big stage with a fully recovered wrist, and he is keen to show the world that the Bengals are still a team to beat at this point. If you are not impressed, pre-injury Burrow was already slated for half his accumulated stats in 2022, which stands at 244 passes on 66.8% completion, to go along with 2,309 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, which says a lot about how he has been on top form had it not been for his injury. With Burrow back in the mix at 100%, it is easy to say that the Bengals are now ready to take on the challenge in his lead, and one can even say that Burrow is hoping to prove all of his critics wrong with massive performances at an MVP level now more than ever.

A Final Run for the Big Three

It is worth noting that Tee Higgins did not get an extension from the Bengals this offseason. If you are not an invested Bengals fan, you should know that Higgins is one of the big three players in the team, along with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. It would be easy for the team to sign Higgins for a second straight year, but that would be back-to-back years of paying a premium, fully guaranteed salary. This just means that it could potentially be the final run for the big three, which builds more pressure for the Bengals to come up with a promising campaign that will see them come out on top of the game at this point – more expectations for the squad to succeed. At least another trip to the Super Bowl could guarantee a return for all stars, while perhaps a Conference Final or a Division Championship could possibly open up talks for a possible extension.

This is the last chance for the Bengals' big 3 image

Jake Browning’s Emergence in the Team

Jake Browning is the future for the Bengals image

It is also worth noting that Jake Browning has been rewarded by the team with a two-year deal after a promising run in the 2023 season. The Bengals relied on the backup QB to anchor their run in the previous season, stepping up in the final seven games and wrapping up his campaign by completing 70.3% of his passes for 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Sure, he’s a great backup QB, but fans can also consider the fact that he nearly got Cincinnati into the playoffs in his own carry, so playing behind Burrow could either have some promising implications for the team, or it can be a big disaster. However, given how flexible he is aside from being a play-caller, it is easy to expect that the Bengals will also find a way to bring him into the starting lineup if needed.

Will the Bengals Get a Chance to be a Playoff Team Again?

The Bengals are coming into the season with the goal of at least making it to the playoffs. However, it is worth noting that the underlying issues in the squad can be considered a pressuring moment that will actually lead to their impressive performances. At most, the Bengals should be gunning for the Conference Championships, if not the Super Bowl. Still, there’s more than a month left to see if the Bengals can get themselves ready to take on the big challenge, and this might just turn their chances around if they get lucky.

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