How the Cincinnati Bengals Keep Clawing Their Way Back to the Top

The journey of the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL times has been a rollercoaster ride, with multiple difficulties. And this season has certainly been no different. Cincy was one of the favorites for the Lombardi in the close season however, they were immediately brought down to earth with a bang as soon as the new campaign got underway.

The Bengals suffered one of their most embarrassing defeats in some time on the opening day of the season when they were humbled by the Cleveland Browns. Their Ohio rivals have reached the playoffs just three times since 1990 but they still managed to reel off a resounding 24-3 victory at FirstEnergy Stadium. And to make matters worse for the visitors, their superstar quarterback Joe Burrow was restricted to just a paltry 82 throwing yards. And things proceeded to get worse.

The Baltimore Ravens handed the Bengals their second consecutive defeat on game week two, on home turf at Paycor Stadium no less. then, Jackpot Joey and Co. did recover somewhat and looked to have turned a corner. Little did they know, they would then be dismantled by the lowly Tennessee Titans on game week four. However, since then, Burrow has led his Bengals back into contention.

The Comeback

They reeled off back-to-back victories on the road at the Arizona Cardinals and on home turf against the Seattle Seahawks. Their week seven trip to the NFC powerhouse San Francisco 49ers would be a true test of just how much the Bengals have recovered. And boy, it was a test they passed with excellence. The Bengals rolled out of Levi’s Stadium after securing a convincing 31-17 victory against the team with the joint-best record in the conference.

Burrow was back on top form, throwing for 283 yards and three touchdowns and officially announcing to the rest of the league that they indeed are back. Online bookmakers providing Super Bowl odds have also taken notice, slashing odds on the Ohio outfit lifting the Lombardi for the first time in franchise history down to +1800. It isn’t quite the +700 they were in the postseason, but they are certainly becoming contenders once more.

But no one should be surprised by the Bengals’ resurrection. They have started each of the previous two seasons in a disappointing manner before going deep into the playoffs against all odds. But just how do they keep doing it?

The Rebuild

Firstly, the Bengals made some key roster moves that helped turn things around. In 2020, they selected Joe Burrow as the first overall pick in the NFL draft. However, things didn’t truly start to click until the following year. In the 2021 offseason, they signed edge rusher Trey Hendrickson from the New Orleans Saints and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi from the Cleveland Browns.

These signings helped bolster their pass rush and run-stopping abilities, something that the team had struggled with in previous years. In addition, they also drafted wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase with their first-round pick. Chase had a historic rookie season, setting franchise records for receiving yards and touchdowns, striking up his partnership with quarterback Joe Burrow which blossomed at LSU.

Head coach Zac Taylor and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo both came under fire after a slow start to the 2021 season. However, they adjusted and adapted their game plans to fit their personnel. Anarumo switched up the defense, moving to a more aggressive style that played to the strengths of Hendrickson and Ogunjobi. Taylor, meanwhile, took advantage of Burrow’s strengths as a passer and got creative with his play-calling. His decision to not kick a field goal on fourth-and-inches in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship game was widely criticized, but it showed the belief he had in his team.

Bouncing Back Once More in 2022

In the 2022 NFL season, the Bengals were off to a shaky start once again, losing their first few games and seeming to lack motivation. However, they did not let their wounds keep them too idle, and they were quick to get back on their feet by analyzing their playing styles and developing a strategy to help them succeed. After eight games last season, the Bengals were sat with a record of 4-4 and didn’t look like they could replicate their Super Bowl-reaching exploits of the previous year.

A convincing 42-21 victory over the lowly Carolina Panthers on the week prior to their bye week meant that they headed into the second half of the campaign with a winning record, and from there, they never looked back. The Bengals reeled off seven consecutive victories (and one no-contest) to head into the postseason as one of the AFC’s form teams. They then knocked off the Baltimore Ravens in the wildcard round, before stunning the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round to reach a second straight conference championship game. Unfortunately for them, this time around, the Kansas City Chiefs would have too much to manage, and it was they who headed to Super Bowl LVII after a narrow victory.

This year, the Bengals have started in a similar vein. But just as they did last term, they look to be bouncing back once more. But can their resurrection lead them all the way to a maiden Lombardi Trophy? Only time will tell.

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