As a supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals, I have no problem admitting that this season was a huge letdown. Superstar quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a persistent calf injury during training camp, which caused him to start the season slowly once again. However, Cincinnati was able to string together a few full games before the elite quarterback suffered another wrist injury that ended his career in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. After that, I realized that Cincinnati was going to have another losing season, despite a valiant effort to close the season with a playoff push.
Bengals Break Bizarre Record to End the Season
Although I have argued the team seemed out of sync from basically the moment they stepped on the field in Week 1 of the 2023 season, they closed the season as the first team since the 1935 Chicago Cardinals (yes, that long) to finish the season with a winning record but also finish last in their division.
The once-opportunistic Cincinnati defense ended up ranking among the worst in the league, even after backup quarterback Jake Browning produced incredible stats in the closing minutes. It was evident that the team had significantly regressed. Even though the squad had one of the greatest tackling units in the NFL the previous year, they were unable to make clean tackles the entire time, allowing big yardage plays to be scored.
Moreover, the offense never really displayed a significant weakness, but despite having three Pro Bowl-caliber receivers, a standout quarterback, and a running back, it was unable to produce the outstanding results that were anticipated this season. Despite having some of the best offensive players in the NFL, the coaching staff actually held the club behind since they never ran plays with any variety. The squad struggled to generate much offensive momentum for the majority of the season despite having great talent on the roster.
After ending the season with a 9-8 record, Cincinnati did formally lock themselves in at the 18th overall pick. Since selecting premier receiver Ja’Marr Chase with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the team’s selection in the 18th round will be their greatest one to date. With no obvious vulnerabilities that would warrant that choice for a squad that faltered towards the end, the team will be able to use it on the best player available. The team’s decisions in free agency, particularly the anticipated departures of defensive lineman D.J. Reader and offensive tackle Jonah Williams, will determine which positions become open.
Even though the season didn’t go the way I expected, I eagerly anticipate the future of my team and hope that they make the right decisions to keep this Super Bowl Contender together heading into the 2024 season. Who Dey!
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