When the Bengals went on a surprise run to Super Bowl 56 last February, there was an underlying sentiment they might not be able to capture lightning in a bottle again. With one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines, an undermanned defense playing literally and figuratively out of its mind, and Joe Burrow launching darts despite seemingly spending half his time on the turf, none of the Bengals’ success looked sustainable.
On paper, Cincinnati was the epitome of a pro football Cinderella whose orange and black-striped slipper didn’t fit anymore. With roughly a month to go before the 2023 NFL postseason — following a statement 20-16 victory over the formidable Titans on Sunday — there’s little doubt as to who the defending AFC champions are: A legitimate Super Bowl contender that actually took the next positive steps following a disappointing result in the Big Game.
