Which five NFL teams are setting their fans up to be let down in the 2022 season? We take a look through some of the top candidates.
There’s not much time left for NFL offseason hype when all teams are undefeated and optimism among fan bases is perhaps at an all-time high.
As the NFL offseason winds down and we get closer to the regular season, we’ve got to start looking at both sides of the coin for some of these teams.
Of course, fans should remain optimistic for as long as possible, but which teams are setting up for a letdown in 2022? Which fan bases should be ready to get back to the drawing board while other teams are advancing through the playoffs?
Let’s take a look at five NFL teams whose expectations — from fans, media, or otherwise — are way too high.
NFL team with way too high expectations no. 1: Cincinnati Bengals
Alright, let’s rip this bandage off.
The Cincinnati Bengals made it to the Super Bowl last season. They represented the AFC and they earned that trip to Los Angeles, running through a tough gauntlet not just in the playoffs but throughout the second half of the NFL’s regular season.
The Bengals have a great core in place starting with quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, the two biggest stars on the team.
Unfortunately, the Bengals’ 2021 season felt more like lightning in a bottle than a true progression.
Although the Bengals made it to the Super Bowl, this is also a team that lost seven games and was at least a year or two ahead of schedule after picking in the top five for two consecutive years.
Yes, Joe Burrow can help accelerate the timeline. The Bengals should still be AFC North contenders.
I’m not suggesting this team will go from AFC Champions to irrelevant. What I am suggesting is that they may not be better than they were last season in terms of reaching the Super Bowl.
Should the Bengals be considered preseason title contenders? Sure. They’ve earned that based on what they did in the second half of last season. Don’t be surprised though if this team still loses five or six games in 2022 and doesn’t make it past the first couple rounds of the postseason.
Matching last year’s magical run is going to be insanely difficult.