Bengals Earn More Praise From NFL Analyst Ahead of 2026 NFL Season

The Cincinnati Bengals enter the 2026 season with far more at stake than simply returning to the playoffs. After finishing 6-11 in 2025 and missing the postseason for a third consecutive year, Cincinnati focused more on defense during the offseason after the unit ranked 31st in total defense last year. 

However, the Bengals will also rely on one of the most lethal offensive units in the NFL led by quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and running back Chase Brown, who is coming off the most productive campaign of his career.

Burrow is entering his seventh NFL season after an injury plagued season where he threw for 1,809 yards and 17 touchdowns. Chase had another impressive season with 1,412 receiving yards, 125 catches and eight touchdowns, Higgins finished with 846 yards, 59 receptions and 11 touchdowns in 2025, while Brown registered the first 1,000-yard season of his career, rushing for 1,019 and six touchdowns.

This core has raised expectations significantly in Cincinnati, and many around the league have had nothing but positive things to say about one of the NFL’s most talented groups on paper. 

Among the latest to speak highly of the Bengals’ talented offensive tandem is ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, who ranked the Bengals’ running back, wide receiver and tight end group as the third best in the NFL. 

“As you already know, the Bengals are the only team in the NFL that can credibly say it has two WR1-caliber talents anchoring the offense,” Barnwell wrote in a report published on Thursday. 

Cincinnati trailed only the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams in Barnwell’s list. He particularly singled out Chase as the centerpiece of the group, noting that the five-time Pro Bowler combines one of the league’s highest ceilings with unmatched consistency.

Chase followed up his historic 2024 Triple Crown season with another First-Team All-Pro campaign. Still only 26 years old, the former LSU standout has shown no signs of slowing down.

Higgins also drew praise after scoring 21 touchdowns over the past two seasons, while Brown was recognized for developing into one of the league’s most versatile dual-threat running backs after expanding his role in the passing game.

Barnwell added, however, that Cincinnati’s depth behind those three remains a question entering the season.

“After those three, well, good luck. Andrei Iosivas has been one of the least efficient receivers in the league, even when one of the players ahead of him has been absent. Tight end Mike Gesicki wasn't able to build on his resurgent 2024 campaign. Erick All Jr. quietly impressed early in his rookie season before missing the second half of 2024 and all of 2025 with a serious knee injury.”

The Bengals enter the 2026 season hoping that its offensive prowess combined with a significantly improved defense would give them a legitimate opportunity to contend for a Super Bowl title. 

Training camp begins with rookies reporting on July 25 and veterans on July 28 before the Bengals open the regular season at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.