For at least one week, the Cincinnati Bengals head in the wrong direction in the power rankings.
Buy Bengals TicketsGetting upset at home by a so-so team in a season opener after a trip to a Super Bowl will do that for a team. And that’s exactly the case for the Bengals after that loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In fresh power rankings, USA Today’s Nate Davis dips the Bengals from third to seventh:
“7. Bengals (3): Not only did QB Joe Burrow serve up a career-high five turnovers, he got sacked seven times Sunday. Last year’s problems have been joined by some new ones in Cincinnati … at least for a week.”
That’s the nice thing about the situation — much of it feels temporary. Joe Burrow looked rusty and turned the ball over five times and the offensive line struggled in a brutal matchup.
But the Bengals were still in that game until the very end and all of the weak points blatantly played better as things continued. Provided that trend continues, Burrow and Co. should be able to scratch and claw their way back up the ratings in the coming weeks.