The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-0, but more importantly, they got a quality win in Houston against the Texans last Sunday.
As a result of a dominant defensive performance against a team that just lit up the Buffalo Bills, the Bengals jumped in the power rankings of all the major outlets. Read below:
ESPN — No. 9 ↑6
“Joe Burrow is a tough customer. … he made all the necessary plays to steer the Bengals to their first 2-0 start with him as a healthy quarterback.” – Ben Baby
NFL.com — No. 3 ↑1
“Dexter Lawrence has transformed this Bengals
front, and everyone is benefitting.” – Nick Shook
Yahoo! Sports — No. 5 ↑7
“The Texans’ run game was simply dreadful on Sunday when it had to carry the offense with receiver Nico Collins out.” – Frank Schwab
USA TODAY — No. 6 ↑3
“Who are these guys? The six points allowed Sunday were tied for Cincinnati’s fewest in a game in the past decade.” – Nate Davis
Pro Football Talk — No. 3 ↑4
“Joe Burrow can’t keep taking these kinds of beatings.” – Mike Florio
Sports Illustrated — No. 6 ↑7
“We have not seen anything close to peak Bengals right now… I pray the team remains averse to the kind of injury witchcraft that normally derails its season.” – Conor Orr
Sporting News — No. 6 ↑5
“The Bengals have shaken off their history of slow starting under Zac Taylor with a second successful 2-0 start.” – Vinnie Iyer
CBS Sports — No. 4 ↑4
“The defense has been much improved, which is why they are up this high. Joe Burrow hasn’t even gotten it going yet.” – Pete Prisco
New York Post — No. 5 ↑7
“Ja’Marr Chase made a spectacular toe-dragging 32-yard touchdown catch for the first of his two scores against the vaunted Texans’ defense.” – Ryan Dunleavy
Up next, the Bengals face the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road.
We previewed that game with ESPN’s Ben Baby and Urinating Tree, a Steelers fan who relentlessly covers the team.
