NFL Power Rankings: October Edition finds LA Rams rising

21. Cincinnati Bengals

The 1-2-1  Bengals are doing better than expected so far, but they play in the brutal AFC North. With an almost certain six losses there, they will struggle to avoid losing another six this season. But that is not as bad as it sounds. Even at 5-10-1, the Bengals are improving and set themselves up for a good 2021 season.

2020 Summary

Even with a 1-2-1 record, the Bengals are last in the AFC North division, and will likely remain there. Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow is making some throws, which has gotten plenty of oohs and ahhs in headlines, but the Bengals need consistent play on offense and defense to win, and it isn’t happening that way.

2020 Outlook

The Bengals play teams from the AFC South and NFC East. While Burrow has shown that he will be good in the future, neither he nor his supporting cast is good enough to win in the AFC North this year. But patience will truly pay off. In 2021, the Pittsburgh Steelers may be breaking in a new quarterback, the Cleveland Browns may have an entirely new roster, and the Baltimore Ravens may blow things up because they are winning in the postseason.

Yes, that was a bit of sarcasm. But the Bengals are on their way. Nobody should have expected Joe Burrow to immediately turn this team around, and yet the media portrayed the team as a rapid riser.  Five wins is a victory for the Bengals in 2020.