Despite an offseason full of change for the Cincinnati Bengals, they’re still projected to be one of the top teams in the league, at least according to one media outlet. According to the NFL on FOX Podcast, the Bengals come in as the 7th-ranked team heading into the 2024 season, just missing out on the top 5.
That ranking comes on the heels of the Bengals trading away their starting running back, Joe Mixon, to the Houston Texans in the offseason, and losing wide receiver Tee Higgins to the Tennessee Titans. On the flip side, they are presumably getting back a healthy Joe Burrow, which should help to mitigate the losses.
Do you agree with this Top 10? pic.twitter.com/nruAaweJSL
— NFL on FOX Podcast (@NFLonFOXPod) August 12, 2024
The AFC North is well-represented in FOX’s rankings, with the Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns all making an appearance in the top 10. The Bengals at 7 have the highest ranking, followed closely by the Ravens at 8, and the Browns round out the top 10 at 10. The only AFC North team not represented is the Pittsburgh Steelers. That ranking may change in the coming days if the Steelers are able to work out a deal with the San Francisco 49ers for star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Those same 49ers come in at number 2 on FOX’s rankings, just behind the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.