The Cincinnati Bengals.
Last year, they were in a typical spot to have a very bad year, particularly against the point spread. They had gone from years of last place finishes to the Super Bowl, such a meteoric rise commonly generates an off-year the following season.
It started that way for the Bengals, they went from losing the Super Bowl to the Los Angeles Rams to opening the 2022 season with a home loss to division rival Pittsburgh, 23-20. In second week action, the defending American Football Conference champs got beat in Dallas by a Cowboys team forced to play a second string quarterback following Dak Prescott’s opening week injury.
Then, the Bengals expected decline reversed field like a rocket. The talent and leadership of quarterback Joe Burrow had Zac Taylor’s team win all but two point spread decisions the rest of the season. They also took the Kansas City Chiefs to the brink in defense of their AFC title before surrendering a three point decision, 23-20, at Arrowhead Stadium.
How did they do that?
How did they go from losing to a struggling Steelers team on their home field, and falling to the Cowboys as a road favorite, before catching fire in a season that should have continued down the rocky road shown the first two weeks?
More importantly, how will the Bengals respond this year after winning when they shouldn’t have last year?
I’m telling you, I’ve got empirical evidence to support a colossal collapse or Super Bowl win.
Take your pick.
Nothing in the middle for the Bengals in 2023, they either win it all or drop like a rock.
Here are the possible scenarios that could play out. The winning season last year, despite being caught in a traditional down season, only adds more credence for a fall in 2023.
Conversely, the Bengals just might be so good that they can come off another year where a Super Bowl title has eluded them and this time grab the golden ring.
It’s early, but as of now, I think the Bengals win it all with a Super Bowl LVIII triumph at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.