Now that much of the offseason roster construction is done for the Cincinnati Bengals, all eyes are on the OTA period, training camp, and eventually the 2026 season.
With big-time acquisitions like Dexter Lawrence, Bryan Cook, Jonathan Allen, and Boye Mafe, expectations for Cincinnati are the highest they’ve been since the 2022 season.
In ESPN’s annual NFL Football Power Index from Seth Walder, we got a look at how the model thinks the Bengals will fare in 2026. The explanation for how they rank teams
can be found below:
FPI’s preseason predictive ratings are primarily based on win totals from the betting market in conjunction with each team’s schedule — along with factors such as the difference between a team’s starting and backup quarterback and a special teams rating that incorporates specific kickers. We use these ratings to simulate the season thousands of times, with the results forming our projections.
On the overall rankings, ESPN has the Bengals listed at 12th in the NFL. That spot is the second-highest in the AFC North, behind the Baltimore Ravens (third). The Pittsburgh Steelers come in at 22nd, while the Cleveland Browns are ranked 30th.
The rankings give the Bengals the third-best chance to make the playoffs, giving them a 69.2% chance to make the postseason, which would be a welcome sight after three straight seasons without a playoff berth. The two teams ahead of them are the Buffalo Bills (84.9%) and the Ravens (82.5%).
As far as the ultimate goal, ESPN’s rankings don’t have as much faith in the Bengals to win the Super Bowl. At just a 4% chance, the model gives the Bengals the 11th-best odds to lift the Lombardi Trophy on February 14th. They give Baltimore a 9.4% chance, while Pittsburgh and Cleveland don’t crack the top 16.
Rankings and data are fun to explore in the offseason, but it will ultimately come down to how the team performs on the field this season, and with the moves they’ve made, the Bengals have as good a chance to reach the promised land as they have since Joe Burrow arrived in 2020.
