AFC North Preview and Prediction: Will Joe Burrow's Injury Affect Bengals From Dominating the Division?
The NFL season is just two days away! Will Joe Burrow's injury affect the Bengals from dominating the division? JT Miller shares his AFC preview and prediction.
JT Miller - September 5, 2023, 12:37 PM EDT
5 minAFC North Preview and Prediction: Will Joe Burrow's Injury Affect Bengals From Dominating the Division?
The Cincinnati Bengals have taken the cake in the AFC North in each of the last two seasons, and I simply see no reason why we should not expect them to do it again here.
AFC North Preview and Prediction
Despite starting the season 4-4 with three division losses to kick off the season, Joe Burrow led the Bengals to a 12-4 regular season record as they ran the table down the stretch, including divisional wins against all three opponents and wins over a Kansas City Chiefs squad led by Patrick Mahomes as well as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad led by Tom Brady on the road.
This team is legit, and Joe Burrow is only getting better as a signal caller. This team is more talented this year than it was each of the last two seasons and should be beyond motivated after finally losing to Kansas City for the first time in two seasons to end their year a game shy of the Super Bowl last year. The Bengals want to return to the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons and are poised to have an opportunity at the trophy again this year.
With that said, this is still a very competitive division in the grand scheme of things. Mike Tomlin has always done a phenomenal job coaching the Steelers; that defense is legit, and Kenny Picket is, without question, getting better at this level, but I do not think they are quite ready yet. The Baltimore Ravens are likely the biggest threat to the Bengals, with former MVP Lamar Jackson and a talented bunch in Baltimore ready to challenge them once again here. Still, even if Cincinnati starts behind the eight ball again with the Burrow injury, I expect them to be near the top of the table at the end of the season, and we know they are more than capable of winning the big games.
AFC North Pick
Bengals AFC North +145 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
NFL Odds
