NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Titans ink Clowney, Chiefs remain clear favorites

If we were setting expectations for the Cincinnati Bengals based solely on the confidence of rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, they would be, at minimum, one of the top five teams in these NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 1. But alas, that’s no how we do things around here.

There should be little reason to doubt Burrow, though. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft has drawn rave reviews throughout training camp on the heels of arguably the greatest college football season by a quarterback in history. He’ll have normal rookie growing pains but all signs are positive that he’s got what’s needed to succeed.

Unfortunately, that can’t be said for the rest of the Bengals roster. The offensive skill positions and the defensive line boast nice mixes of talented youngsters and productive veterans but every other group is littered with uncertainty.

The offensive line gets 2019 first-rounder Jonah Williams back but the rest of the unit is quite worrisome. That sentiment holds true for the linebackers and a secondary that was rebuilt in free agency but with players who aren’t wholly reliable based on what they’ve shown. When you have those crucial areas of the roster raising doubts, that doesn’t bode well for the season’s outlook.