Cincinnati Bengals record prediction: Game-by-game picks for 2020
Will Joe Burrow immediately get the Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs?
The Cincinnati Bengals are entering a new era. Prior to the 2019 season, they jettisoned longtime head coach Marvin Lewis in favor of young Zac Taylor. Now they’ve cut ties with Andy Dalton and brought in the hopeful savior of the franchise, former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, who they selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Considering that the Bengals went 2-14 a season ago, you naturally need to temper expectations for Cincinnati. That continues to ring true as their free agency decisions this offseason, specifically signing not highly coveted veterans to revamp the secondary, were less than stellar. And yet, there is also reason for optimism.
Offensive tackle Jonah Williams missed his rookie season in 2019 and the first-round pick will help fortify the line in front of Burrow and Joe Mixon. Meanwhile, A.J. Green is back healthy for at least one more year, joining Tyler Boyd and second-round rookie Tee Higgins, all of whom should help make the offense more formidable than they were a season ago.
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So with the totality of the Bengals in focus, how much success can Burrow lead this team to as a rookie? Let’s make game-by-game picks to come up with an early Bengals record prediction for the 2020 season.
Week 1: vs. Chargers – Loss
In the career-opener for Burrow, he gets a relatively unkind matchup against a Chargers defense that made a ton of upgrades this offseason. With that and a steady offense, LA should win in Week 1.
Week 2: at Browns (Thursday Night Football) – Loss
Welcome to the NFL, Joe Burrow. Your first off week is a shortened one against one of the most talented rosters in the league. Even if the Browns underachieved last season, a coaching change and their overall talent should give them a comfortable win in Cleveland.
Week 3: at Eagles – Loss
Some people are more sold on the Eagles in the 2020 season than I am. Having said that, Philly has a fearsome defensive front that could cause a suspect Bengals interior offensive line a ton of issues, thus deciding the outcome.
Week 4: vs. Jaguars – Win
Though there are glaring holes on the Bengals roster, there are far more on the Jaguars. Throw in the fact that I don’t trust Doug Marrone as a head coach and Cincinnati gets their first win of 2020 in Week 4.
Week 5: at Ravens – Loss
Coming off the first win of the season, the Bengals will get a cold dose of reality in the AFC North as they go on the road to Baltimore. The Ravens had the best record in the conference last season and Cincy isn’t ready to challenge them, especially on the road.
Week 6: at Colts – Loss
While there is cause for trepidation with the Colts, particularly in their secondary, this team is going to be a bear to deal with on offense. Philip Rivers and Indianapolis at home should be able to roll through the Bengals.
Week 7: vs. Browns – Loss
Spoiler alert, but I’m high on the Browns actually realizing the hype in the 2020 season. So while it would be great to see the Bengals can compete in the AFC North at a decent level, I believe that’s the next step of the team’s progression.
Week 8: vs. Titans – Win
On the heels of three straight losses and sitting at 1-6 on the season, this might seem odd. However, Tennessee is due for some regression and, while the Titans offense can have some success, Burrow has a career day in a shocking win at home going into the bye.
Week 10: at Steelers – Loss
After getting to enjoy a win for two weeks, the Bengals have to go on the road to Pittsburgh. Even if Ben Roethlisberger is past his prime, his presence at quarterback vaults the Steelers miles higher than they were last season. That’s bad news for Cincinnati.
Week 11: at Redskins – Win
You should be hopeful about what Ron Rivera and a new regime in Washington can do. You should also be skeptical that you’ll see any results in the 2020 season. The Bengals have a better roster, shockingly, which leads to a road win.
Week 12: vs. Giants – Win
Man, while there is talent in New York, I believe the Giants could be one of the worst teams in the NFL. Their defense is that bad and, outside of Saquon Barkley, I’m worried about offensive skill positions too. Give me Cincinnati going to 2-0 against the NFC East.
Week 13: at Dolphins – Loss
This should be the Burrow vs. Tua bowl if we’re lucky. The simple truth, however, is this game is in Miami and I have more evidence that Brian Flores is a good head coach than Taylor. With a slight talent edge too, the Dolphins get the win in a battle of rebuilding clubs.
Week 14: vs. Cowboys – Loss
Now that Mike McCarthy has taken over the head coach in Dallas, look out for the Cowboys. The offense is loaded and the defense is better than it gets credit for. This one probably won’t be close in Week 14.
Week 15: vs. Steelers (Monday Night Football) – Loss
In the second of two primetime games for the Bengals, they draw a tough matchup at home against the Steelers. The hope here is that Burrow can show some life against a good defense. At the end of the day, however, Cincinnati’s defense won’t have enough answers to win.
Week 16: at Texans – Win
Cue the broken record but I’m doubting the Texans this season in a big way. You can only handle so much mismanagement in the front office before things start to crumble. Losing to the Bengals in Week 16 will be a sign of that.
Week 17: vs. Ravens – Loss
Ultimately, what was said about the first matchup in Baltimore remains true in Week 17. The Bengals just aren’t ready to hang with the Ravens. Their only chance is if the Ravens are resting their starters at this point.
Cincinnati Bengals final record prediction for 2020: 5-11
Ostensibly, going 5-11 isn’t a great season. But for the Cincinnati Bengals, it should be considered a massive success, especially if they are able to see several things. At the forefront of that is the progression of Burrow in his first NFL season.
Next. Grades for all 32 NFL uniforms in 2020. dark
If Burrow is able to not only put up good numbers but be competitive against the teams that are simply better than the Bengals, that’s all Cincinnati can ask for. As they hit reset on the franchise, there are still more pieces to add. But if it seems as if they nailed their No. 1 overall pick at quarterback, that’s the best start they could hope for.