It always seems like it’s one step forward two steps back for the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2015 respected regular season contenders who had their playoff aspirations crush by undisciplined play in the chaos at Paul Brown two Januaries ago to 2016 when they became laughing stocks. A team with such high hopes that plummeted. That’s the problem with the Bengals. I am about to lay out one of the most explosive offensive rosters in the league and a formidable defense. On paper this team should be a power house in the AFC, that’s just the problem, on paper. Somehow someway the Bengals, or maybe at this point just the football gods mangle it all up for the city of Cincinnati. So we proceed for an exercise in constant disappointment.
Andy Dalton continues to improve every year, until December. Dalton is constantly hyped up and then disappoints, there is no reason to believe this year will go any other way. Don’t be fooled Dalton has all kinds of weapons and will look like an MVP three quarters of the season. However, he will fall off the wagon in late November.
For Dalton to succeed the backfield must step up. That backfield this year comes in the form of controversial second round draft pick Joe Mixon. Putting Mixons heinous domestic abuse charge behind him, he was the best running back in a deep running back class. His talent paired with a dominant offensive line could help carry Dalton through the last quarter of the season and into the playoffs. It doesn’t mean they will.
The Bengals Receiving core is also new and improved with the addition of rookie speedster John Ross and the return of a healthy tight end in Tyler Eifert will also help improve on a mediocre receiving year last year.
The Bengals defense lost several key players over the offseason and the rest of their defense has discipline issues. They are the Sqaud that represents this team as an entity great on paper bowl super bowl ready. When they get on the field though it’s a different story.