The Cincinnati Bengals' defense derailed their 2025 season, but that's a thing of the past with the current bolstered unit.
The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. predicted Cincinnati will finish among the NFL’s top 10 teams in points allowed in 2026, a colossal leap after the Bengals ranked 30th in that category last season.
“The ugly, horrific awfulness of the 2025 Bengals defense makes it hard to believe such a dramatic spike from 30th in points allowed to top 10 would be possible,” Dehner wrote, before pointing to Cincinnati’s renovated personnel and encouraging work during training camp.
The Bengals surrendered 492 points, or 28.9 per game, in 2025, while also ranking 31st in total yards allowed and last in rushing yards allowed.
Cincinnati responded
with one of the NFL’s most aggressive defensive makeovers.
The main move was the trade for three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, which cost Cincinnati the No. 10 overall pick. The Bengals also added edge rusher Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook in free agency while using second- and third-round picks on Cashius Howell and Tacario Davis.
Those additions have generated optimism. Head coach Zac Taylor said in August that this is the best defensive line he has had during his tenure in Cincinnati, highlighting the unit's combination of high-end talent and depth.
Dehner specifically pointed to Lawrence's impact up front and Cook replacing Geno Stone at safety as reasons the Bengals could limit explosive plays more effectively.
Going from 30th to the top 10 would be one of the NFL’s biggest defensive turnarounds. But with Cincinnati already possessing a high-powered offense led by Joe Burrow, anything close to that improvement could significantly change the Bengals’ outlook in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals defense gets top-10 prediction after finishing 30th in 2025
