Cincinnati Bengals 2022-2023 Season Preview

Can the Bengals repeat a surprise run to the Super Bowl?

The Cincinnati Bengals were, by far, the biggest surprise in the NFL in 2021.  Entering the season, most picked the Bengals to finish last in their division.  This was no surprise as the team was coming off of a 4-11-1 season, where quarterback Joe Burrow tore his ACL and MCL in week 11, while also suffering damage to his PCL and meniscus.

 

Many expected the Bengals to draft offensive tackle Penei Sewell to protect Burrow’s blindside, but instead they decided to select his college teammate, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, a decision that was highly criticized at the time.  Entering the season, it was unclear how Burrow would look in his return from season-ending surgery with an offensive line that was still underwhelming.

 

It became clear early on that the Bengals made the correct choice, as Chase and Burrow were able to recreate their magic from their college days at LSU.  Burrow wound up leading the league in completion percentage on his way to winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year.  As for Chase, he would win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, while also being named a second-team All-Pro.  The duo would rewrite the Bengals record books, on route to a 10-7 season.

The Bengals, who entered the postseason without a playoff win since 1990, were not expected by many to make a deep run.  Despite their regular season success, many looked at a middle of the pack defense and an offensive line that allowed Burrow to be sacked an NFL-leading 51 times and didn’t think the Bengals were a legitimate contender.

 

In the postseason, the Bengals defense was able to click at the right time, allowing an average of just 19.67 points against the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, and Kansas City Chiefs on route to a Super Bowl appearance.  Burrow and the Bengals offense were able to overcome an offensive line that continued to have woes, as they allowed Burrow to tie the record for most times sacked in a postseason game, as he was sacked 9 times against the Titans, and set the record for most times sacked in a single postseason, with 19.

 

Despite losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl, the Bengals season was widely viewed as a success.  They weren’t predicted to make the postseason, let alone the Super Bowl, as they opened the season with an over/under win total of just 6.5, and +15000 odds to win the Super Bowl.  The fact that they were leading the Super Bowl with under two minutes shows how much they over accomplished.  In fact, if not for their offensive line, which allowed 70 sacks, the third-most ever in the regular season and postseason combined, the Bengals would likely be Super Bowl champions.  Burrow had Chase wide open down the field on the final fourth down play, but didn’t have time to go through his reads, as Aaron Donald forced an errant throw.

Will the Bengals be able to repeat their success and make another run?

The Bengals will have most of their offensive core back in 2022, as Burrow, Chase, star running back Joe Mixon, and wide receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd will all return.  They did, however, lose tight end C.J. Uzomah, and will look to replace his production with former first-round pick Hayden Hurst.

 

More importantly, the Bengals revamped an offensive line that was the Achilles heel of the offense last season by adding offensive lineman Alex Cappa, Ted Karras, and La’el Collins.  Nearly their entire free agent budget went to fixing the offensive line, a smart move by the front office.

 

Outside of Uzomah and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, who signed with the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals will bring back all of their key contributors from one of 2021’s youngest rosters.  Star safety Jessie Bates is a potential holdout candidate after being franchise tagged, but he does have until July 15th to reach an extension with the organization.  The situation will be worth monitoring throughout the week, and leading up to training camp, if he is unable to reach an extension before the deadline.

 

The Bengals will be playing in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions in 2022, as all four teams are expected to compete for the postseason.  The Baltimore Ravens will have Lamar Jackson back from injury, the Cleveland Browns will have Deshaun Watson depending on his suspension, and Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers can never be counted out.  The Bengals are currently being given +190 odds to win the AFC North, second-best in the division, trailing only the Ravens, who sit at +160.

 

As for a return trip to the Super Bowl, the Bengals odds currently sit at +1000, good for a tie with the Ravens for fifth-best in the conference, trailing the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos.  The Bengals are currently tied with the Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts for the 10th best odds, +2200, to win the Super Bowl.  They trail the Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Broncos, and Dallas Cowboys.

 

As far as a return trip to the postseason, the Bengals are currently -135.  Their over/under win total for 2022 currently sits at 10 games.  The Bengals will play in a very crowded AFC North and have the third toughest strength of schedule, trailing only the Super Bowl champion Rams and the Arizona Cardinals, so it is easy to see why that win total isn’t higher, despite improving their offensive line.

 

As for Burrow, following his splendid 2021 season, he is being given the sixth-best odds to win the MVP award, trailing only Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.  Burrow could be a good value pick for the award, as his weapons mostly remain intact, and his offensive line can only be better than 2021.

 

The Bengals should likely return to the postseason, although it will be more difficult in a crowded AFC race where 13 of the 16 teams, including all 4 AFC North teams, will be competing for a postseason spot.  Making another run to the Super Bowl will be even more difficult, as surviving the gauntlet of the regular season could take a lot out of the Bengals.  Even without a return to the Super Bowl, the Bengals remain ahead of schedule and a Lombardi trophy could be in their future.