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NFL Grades: Report card for each team after first quarter of 2018

By Randy Gurzi

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Running back Todd Gurley #30 and quarterback Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams enter the stadium through the tunnel area of their game against the Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Running back Todd Gurley #30 and quarterback Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams enter the stadium through the tunnel area of their game against the Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 30: Giovani Bernard #25 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 30: Giovani Bernard #25 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals (3-1): A-

Entering the 2018 NFL Season, the AFC North was supposed to be the Pittsburgh Steelers running away with things. Sure, the Cleveland Browns were improving, but the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals were trending in the wrong direction. Apparently, those teams didn’t get the memo because each is at 3-1 following wins in Week 4.

As for the Bengals though, this really wasn’t seen coming. After retaining Marvin Lewis as head coach, it felt like mediocrity was the end game once again. He’s been struggling in recent seasons to find wins and was reportedly leaving the team in the offseason. Instead, he signed an extension and so far it’s looking like the right play.

They started out the season with wins against the Indianapolis Colts and the Ravens while losing their game against the Carolina Panthers.

What’s most impressive is they’ve now scored at least 34 points in all three wins, with 37 being their high in Week 4. Overall, they’re scoring 31.5 points per game, which is even more impressive considering they’ve been on the road for three of their first four games this season.

The only thing keeping this from being an A, or A+, is their defense not being able to slow too many offenses down. They’re giving up just over 28 points a game, which could come back to haunt them.

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