2013 NFL Preview: Cincinnati Bengals
Added on Aug 01, 2013 by Scott in
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Referring to the Bengals as the class of the AFC North sounds insane. After all, the Ravens are the defending Super Bowl champs and Pittsburgh has played in three Big Games, and won two, since 2006. However, the talent on both sides of the Bengals roster cannot be denied. They are a rising team coming off a playoff year that added James Harrison in free agency and a handful of potential studs in the draft. Here’s their outlook for 2013.
Cincinnati Bengals – Three of the last four seasons resulted in playoff berths. Problem is they failed to win a single postseason game during that time. A defense chock full of Pro Bowl caliber players and an efficient, if not always explosive, offense has raised expectations in the Queen City. So much so that HBO’s Hard Knocks will document training camp exploits for a second time.
Player in the spotlight: Dre Kirkpatrick – The 2012 first-rounder was a major disappointment as a rookie due mostly to injuries. The plan was for him and Leon Hall to form one of the league’s best cornerback tandems. If he can bounce back and live up to his draft status, the Bengals defense could finish in the Top 3. The front seven is scary good, but the secondary is still searching for consistency.
Trouble spot: Number two receiver – A.J. Green is a beast. Everyone else is, well, let’s just say a work in progress. Mohamed Sanu and Andrew Hawkins both have upside, but the former is raw and the latter averaged only 10.5 yards per catch in 2012. Neither has to be an All-Pro, but one of them, or someone else, needs to keep defenses from blanketing Green during crunch time.
Fearless forecast – Andy Dalton steadily improved from year one to year two. If he takes another step toward the upper echelon of quarterbacks, the Bengals could be looking at a division title. The schedule is bumpy along the way, but there are enough winnable games to reach 11-5. Rookie running back Giovani Bernard is one to watch. He could take over as the team’s top back by midseason.
