Cincinnati Bengals: Early 2018 game-by-game season predictions
By Kenn Korb
Week 14
Cincinnati Bengals @ Los Angeles Chargers
Outside of New England, there are few teams in the AFC who immediately jump off the page as definitive choices to have successful seasons. With that in mind, it would not be a surprise to see upwards of eight teams all mushed close together fighting for the spots beneath the Patriots.
The Chargers and Bengals could be right in the middle of it all, challenging for one of those coveted playoff spots. The Chargers have some of the most intriguing talent of any NFL roster these days, but they also have consistently struggled to not only stay healthy but to consistently approach their potential every season. Talent doesn’t always win out, but in this instance I believe it will.
Los Angeles 28, Cincinnati 20
Record: 7-6
Week 15
Oakland Raiders @ Cincinnati Bengals
Oakland was the “next great team” only a couple years ago. Much has changed since that magical 2016 season, however: Derek Carr had a down 2017, Jack Del Rio was fired, and Michael Crabtree was cut. Now, Jon Gruden is in town on a 10-year contract and Jordy Nelson was signed to replace Crabtree.
Those moves can be argued as good or bad, but here’s what cannot be questioned: the defense has never been good throughout these past few years, and who knows if it will actually be any better this season. For them to succeed, everything likely falls on Khalil Mack making tons of plays on one end, and Carr returning to pseudo-MVP levels on the other. I’m skeptical of it working with consistency in year one of Gruden’s coaching return, and that works in Cincinnati’s favor.
Cincinnati 34, Oakland 23
Record: 8-6
Week 16
Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns
At this point in the year, if things work out as I’ve described Cincinnati would be in prime position for a return to the postseason. If they win out, at 10-6 they would be extremely likely to get at least a wild card slot; win one of two, and they still could have a decent shot at 9-7. They better win this one though, because Week 17 will be against Pittsburgh (and as previously stated, I cannot in good conscience pick them to beat that team until they actually do so first).
The Browns have a great opportunity to bring on an upset (kind of giving Cincinnati the same end of the stick Baltimore was hit with to end 2017), but even with this being a home game for them, Cincinnati will have proven themselves to still be the better team by now. It’ll be a close and fun affair, but Cincinnati will come out on top.
Cincinnati 31, Cleveland 27
Record: 9-6
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Week 17
Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers
As I keep saying, I’m not picking Cincinnati to beat Pittsburgh until I see it happen at this point. Even if this team is right there fighting for a playoff spot, Pittsburgh will almost certainly be fighting for a bye week unless something goes horribly wrong for them along the way (like Ben Roethlisberger is abducted by aliens).
Based on the way the physicality gets dangerously out of control every time these teams meet, a forfeit would work just as well — while also removing the injury risks entirely. Still, if the season has worked out well enough outside of Pittsburgh matchups, Cincinnati should be right there fighting for a playoff spot regardless of their eventual losses to their Pennsylvania-bound rivals.
Pittsburgh 27, Cincinnati 23
Record: 9-7