The Cincinnati Bengals outlook in 2024 wavers as much as the debate on Skyline Chili. Some love it and some hate it.
In 2023, the Bengals season started and ended with injuries to Joe Burrow. Despite that and facing a gauntlet of great quarterbacks, they still finished 9-8. The season was a disappointment for fans in the Queen City. High expectations and a tough schedule made for a bad bowl of football.
The Bengals, healthy, with Burrow in the lineup, went into Santa Clara and dominated the NFC Champions. The next week, they beat Buffalo. The notoriously slow starting Bengals were on the upswing. That seemed to have gotten lost in the shuffle of last season.
Brian Callahan has moved on to Tennessee and even took a few guys with him. Don Pitcher got promoted to lead the Bengals offense in 2024. Familiarity between Burrow and his quarterback coach should lead to a seamless transition for the Bengals. Cincinnati has a chance to do something they don’t typically do, which is to start fast. Four of their first six games should see the Bengals favored.
Trent Brown was brought in on the offensive line to help keep Joey B upright. The offensive line for the Bengals is mysterious. Aging and showing signs of decline, this group is still better than the group that made a playoff run a few years back.
That group will also be responsible for opening up holes for the backfield tandem of Zach Moss and speedster, Chase Brown. In his second year, it looks like a lot will be expected out of Brown, and the question of if Zach Moss can handle a full workload are key.
Trey Hendrickson, the defensive chaos creator, was disgruntled in the offseason. Tee Higgins is playing on the franchise tag and there still is no resolution to the Ja’Marr Chase situation. Those three guys alone can determine a lot for this team in 2024. Their mindsets when foot meets ball on September 8th at Paycor versus New England will be a fascinating watch.
Lou Anarumo’s defense was unusually weak in 2023. DJ Reader, who I don’t believe people are realizing his talent as a run stopper, is a big loss. They replaced DJ with Sheldon Rankins, but Rankins is more of a pass rusher than run stopper. The secondary for Cincinnati was an issue all year in 2023. Sweet Lou gets a fresh new look on the back end with two new-ish safeties. Geno Stone comes over from division rival Baltimore.The Bengals also welcomed back with open arms, Vonn Bell who spent a year in purgatory, I mean Carolina.
Those two alone will give the Anarumo defense the backside coverage that the Bengals sorely missed.
The last place schedule, revamped safeties, and a healthy Burrow make the Bengals a top 10 team again. If Hendrickson, Higgins, and Chase are all in, Cincinnati will be a threat again in the AFC.
As far as the chili goes? I love it and can’t wait to head back to the 513 to get some. The 2024 Bengals chili, yeah I’m eating that too. Outside of the obvious benchmark in Kansas City, Joe Burrow healthy, is a five way road to success.
