Dan Orlovsky Makes Bold Prediction for Cincinnati Bengals on Pat McAfee Show

Analyst Dan Orlovsky spoke about the Cincinnati Bengals on the Pat McAfee Show on Friday morning, going in-depth about his outlook on the season and making a bold record prediction.

Orlovsky thinks the Bengals will finish with a 13-4 record in 2026, winning the AFC North.

The prediction comes with Orlovsky believing Cincinnati has one of the easiest schedules in the NFL this season. He also pointed to the lack of elite quarterbacks the Bengals will face throughout the regular season as another reason he believes the team can put together a strong record.

Beyond the schedule, Orlovsky believes the Bengals have done enough to put themselves in position to compete for a division title. Cincinnati made a major investment in its roster this offseason, paying the players it believed needed to be retained while also making a significant move to improve the defense.

That move came in the form of a trade for New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. The addition gives the Bengals another star on the defensive side of the ball and adds to a roster that already features several high-level players.

Orlovsky also pointed to the pressure facing the Bengals if they fail to improve in 2026. Cincinnati has missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons after making the AFC Championship Game in 2022. With the team continuing to invest heavily in its core, another season without meaningful progress could lead to changes.

That is part of the reason Orlovsky is so confident in the Bengals heading into the season. He believes the organization has made the moves necessary to give the team a chance to succeed and is now expecting the results to follow.

Orlovsky's confidence lines up perfectly with what Joe Burrow said Thursday following the Bengals' joint practice with the Chicago Bears.

Burrow made it clear that he believes the time is now for Cincinnati. After several seasons of falling short of the postseason, Burrow said the Bengals have the pieces they need to make a run and that he is tired of having to wait for the next season year after year.

The Bengals' quarterback has consistently maintained that the team's expectations should be high, and his comments Thursday reflected that mindset. Cincinnati invested in its defense while keeping the core of its offense together, giving it one of the most talented rosters Zac Taylor has had to date.

With Burrow believing the pieces are in place and Orlovsky predicting a division title, expectations are clearly high in Cincinnati heading into the 2026 season.