The Athletic's football show recently examined the 2026 Cincinnati Bengals, highlighting the team’s offensive upgrades and lingering defensive questions as the club prepares for another push toward the postseason.
A Revamped Offensive Identity
Robert Mays praised the cohesion of the Bengals’ attack, noting that the offensive line has become one of the strongest units since Joe Burrow’s arrival. Homegrown talents Dylan Fairchild and Amarius Mims have added depth and stability, while the run game showed marked efficiency in the latter half of the 2025 season.
Derrik Klassen observed that the shift to under‑center formations has produced a top‑five explosive run rate of 9.2%, a metric achieved despite the team’s historically low usage of the formation. This evolution reflects a strategic blend of power running and play‑action passing that could keep defenses off balance.
Defensive Dependencies
Dave Helman warned that the defense will hinge on Dexter Lawrence’s ability to repeat his 2024 level of production; otherwise the unit risks echoing past shortcomings that have limited the Bengals’ ceiling. The piece also notes that Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe are viewed as underrated contributors whose skill sets fit the scheme, while Kyle Dugger’s 2025 stint with Pittsburgh was cited as a positive indicator of his adaptability.
The article underscores that Joe Burrow has never ranked in the top five in EPA per dropback, yet the offense has finally risen above the sixth‑place ranking it held for years. The Bengals’ capacity to blend a potent run game with a balanced passing attack will determine whether they can transition from a consistently great team to an elite contender in the playoffs.