8. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)
The Cincinnati Bengals were on the bye in Week 6 and are in a solid spot overall. They’re actually now in last place in the AFC North, as all of Cleveland, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh are 4-2. Every team in the AFC North has a winning record, and if this trend holds throughout the season, there is a chance that the entire division makes the playoffs.
In terms of total ceiling, the Bengals probably own the highest, as they have the best collection of roster talent in the division and probably have a QB you can trust on the most. Jackson’s injuries here and there really make it hard to rely on him consistently, despite his being a generational player.
The Bengals also revamped the defensive side of the ball this offseason and have seen some flashes of that unit being improved this year. Having not made the playoffs since the 2022 NFL Season, this feels like a major year for the Bengals, and they appear to have most of what they need to make a run in place.
7. Chicago Bears (4-2)
Well, Caleb Williams is back. Williams and the Bears were able to defeat the Falcons in Week 6. Williams went a healthy 30/36 for 305 yards and one touchdown, putting up production you just don’t see much anymore. The Falcons ended up outscoring the Bears by six points in the second half, but this is as good a win as you could expect from a team seeing their QB come back from a notable injury.
The Bears are now 4-2 on the season, and it really seems like half the league is 4-2 at this point. Chicago certainly has bigger things on their minds, as they went 11-6 in the first year of the Ben Johnson era last year, and given how big of a brand the Bears are, and how household of a name Williams is, Chicago does have a lot at stake.
This team should be able to win 12 or 13 games this year, as the defense has definitely played well, for the most part, this year, and if Williams can continue to grow in year two of Johnson’s scheme, they could win it all. Even if Chicago had one of their backup QBs starting in this one, most of us would have expected a Chicago victory.
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