What Cincinnati Bengals fans already suspected became reality during the Week 1 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Joe Burrow has the best offensive line of his pro career.
There were certainly signs this was the case last year, despite the jetlag national narratives seemed to take. Then, the Bengals brought back the same starting five linemen for another season for the first time in Burrow’s career.
That sort of said it all, right?
The proof showed up on the field during the win over the Bucs. As CBS Sports’ Mike Renner pointed out, the Bengals only allowed seven pressures on 37 dropbacks during the win. Impressive, considering the Bucs boast names like Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea and Rueben Bain.
Speaking of Bain, Amarius Mims looked like an All-Pro
while shutting him down. He’s well on his way to reaching the highpoint of his suspected ceiling as a starting tackle in the pros.
Every week won’t be perfect. The AFC North happens to boast names like TJ Watt and old friend Trey Henrickson. Internet commentators will overexaggerate one bad rep from Orlando Brown or somebody else.
But as a whole? Long gone are the days the Bengals cross their fingers and hope a name like Bobby Hart can put up some respectable reps. The Bengals have a solid unit along the offensive line (and some encouraging younger depth, too), and with Joe Burrow at quarterback, that’s easily enough to make them contenders.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Confirmed: Bengals have best OL of the Joe Burrow era
