Are the Bengals going for the win this year? What do they need to win another Super Bowl?
Given that the Cincinnati Bengals are an NFL playoff team this season once again, boasts an 11-4 record as we head into the final two weeks of the regular season, and currently sit at the top of the AFC North division as they seek back-to-back titles, it is clear that the Ohio franchise is looking to try and replicate their run of last season and go one better.
As many of us can all remember, the Bengals were the unlikeliest of challenges for the Super Bowl last season, however they managed to get to the premier event where they took on the Los Angeles Rams in the opponent’s own backyard: SoFi Stadium. Of course, the result was not quite what the team had in mind, but it seems that there is no hangover being experienced by the Bengal Nation.
Can the Bengals Return to the Super Bowl?
There is a lot of chatter around the NFL and even in the state of Ohio at the moment regarding the Bengals and whether they can make an instant return to the Super Bowl this season and finally win it. Last season’s appearance was the first time the team had managed to make the game in 33 years, and with recent campaigns having been rather disappointing, last season was a dream for many supporters.
However, times have changed under Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow, with the head coach and the quarterback appearing to have given the team an incredible chance of being able to challenge for honors with each season they are working together. Indeed, the team also has a number of star players on its roster, which naturally helps improve those odds, too.
So, can the team return to the Super Bowl for a second straight successive season? There is every reason that they could. As highlighted, the team already boasts an 11-4 record which has been good enough for the AFC North divisional leaders to capture a playoff berth and compete in the postseason in January.
Wanting to keep ahold of their crown as divisional champions, the Bengals have not let the fact that they know they will be playing in the postseason slow their season down, either. While there is still plenty to play for in the two final games of the regular season against the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens, the team went out and put on a clinic in their recent matchup with the New England Patriots following confirmation of their involvement in the playoffs.
The Bengals are in Fine Form
The organization is also in fine form as of this moment, with the team having won seven on the bounce, and with their home form (5-1) impeccable, the two upcoming contests will be played at the Paycor Stadium, thus feeling many around the team with confidence that they can get the job done when they take to the gridiron.
The form that has been shown throughout the vast majority of the season has provided staff, players, fans, and even some online bookmakers that are set to enter the Ohio sports betting market imminently with that same feeling of confidence in recent weeks, too. Some of these bookmakers are already offering punters the opportunity to take advantage of some Ohio sportsbook promotions which could be potentially utilized on markets such as reaching Super Bowl LVII by those who believe the Bengals will be able to make an immediate return.
However, while there is a degree of confidence about what could happen, will the Bengals actually be able to do what was once seen as impossible before the drafting of Joe Burrow?
Tough Challenges Lie Ahead
As highlighted already, the final two games of the 2022 NFL season are arguably two of the hardest fixtures that the Cincinnati Bengals could have possibly been handed this year, especially with how the campaign has turned out.
Of course, the confidence is there in regard to backing the Bengal Nation to get the job done and retain the AFC North title that had been captured the year before, however, with the Bills and the Ravens both set to come to Ohio, things could be a little tricky for the franchise.
Starting with the game on Monday Night Football, the Buffalo Bills are in a similar position to the Bengals in the regard that they know they have already clinched a playoff berth for the postseason. However, the Bills still have something else they are fighting for, which will make the upcoming game at the Paycor Stadium challenging to navigate.
The Bills are fighting for the overall No. 1 seed in the AFC and will know a win against the Bengals can help them to achieve it. This is because they hold the tiebreak over the Kansas City Chiefs, with both franchises currently 12-3 on the year and among the strongest teams in the NFL this season. The No. 1 seed is important in the playoff run, as it will mean the team who has it will receive a bye before having the home-field advantage in their postseason contests.
Following the conclusion of that game, the Bengals will then need to take on AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens; a team that could still end up as the divisional champions if they are able to win both their games and the Bengals lose both. The Ravens are currently 10-5 on the season, but a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers could crank up the tension and nerves experienced by those in Ohio and around the world that cheer on the Bengal Nation.
Super Bowl Run Can Happen
While there is still plenty of gridiron football left to be played, the Bengals have certainly put themselves in a strong position to try and return to the Super Bowl and compete for the NFL’s biggest prize. Of course, they have already qualified for the postseason, although many will suggest the hard work begins now.
Whether Burrow can replicate the impressive feats of last season and get the Bengals to the premier event once again remains to be seen, but it would not be wrong to assume that they could end up there once again based on how the organization has been performing in recent months.
