The Cincinnati Bengals needed overtime to defeat the seemingly hapless Tennessee Titans, just a week after blowing out the Baltimore Ravens.
Here’s how the experts reacted.
Bengals in the NFL Power Rankings Week 9
NFL.com — No. 8 ↓3
“This won’t fly against better teams, and the Bengals know it.” — Nick Shook
Yahoo! Sports — No. 5 ↑1
“Tennessee’s offense was one of the worst in the NFL and it gained 440 yards and scored 36 points on the Bengals.
Given Cincinnati’s defensive issues in recent seasons, it was worrisome even in the win.” — Frank Schwab
USA TODAY — No. 14 ↑3
“A 5-2 start is their best since 2021,
one that led them to Super Bowl 56. But Sunday’s 43-36 overtime defeat of the Titans sure evoked troubling memories of the post-2021 Bengals..” — Nate Davis
Pro Football Talk — No. 11 ↑1
“Joe Burrow is emerging as a serious MVP candidate.” — Mike Florio
Sports Illustrated — No. 10 ↓1
“We need to start appreciating the games where Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase go for roughly 300 combined yards, three touchdowns and 30 targets. This troika (including Joe Burrow) may never be at full strength again, but once every few months we get the absolute juggernaut game we deserve..” — Conor Orr
Sporting News — No. 12 ↓1
“Joe Burrow is on pace for 49 TD passes and 5,136 yards and raised his league-best completion percentage to 73.0. It’s a roller-coaster ride with his turnovers at times but as long as he’s healthy, the Bengals are a real threat to win Super Bowl 61.” — Vinnie Iyer
ESPN — No. 10 ↓1
(Ben Baby’s blurb was about in-season trades and not the Bengals’ recent performance.)
CBS Sports — No. 8 ↓3
“Joe Burrow and the passing game bailed out the defense in the overtime victory over the Titans.” — Pete Prisco
New York Post — No. 8 (no change)
“How do you offset throwing three interceptions to the same defender (Amani Hooker)?” — Ryan Dunleavy
While the last two games have been absolute rollercoasters, there’s no denying that the Bengals look primed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2022 season. So fans shouldn’t complain, says Betsy McNally.
We recapped the Titans game and previewed the upcoming matchup in Madrid against the Atlanta Falcons.
