The Cincinnati Bengals have put an immense amount of pressure on themselves heading into the 2026 NFL season. After missing the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, the time is now to get back to the postseason and contend for a Super Bowl. That is especially true, given the incredible offseason they’ve had. General manager Duke Tobin has completely rebuilt the previously lackluster defense into a more than suitable unit that is capable of supporting the star-studded offense, at least on paper. 

Media members and fans alike are hopping on the Bengals bandwagon with this in mind. Superstar quarterback Joe Burrow has proven that when he is healthy, he is capable of being an MVP-caliber player and one of, if not the best, quarterbacks in the world. His health is the key, though, as he has played in 10 or fewer games in three of his six seasons in the NFL. 

Despite the lack of consistency in durability, Burrow has proven that he has the potential to be the best Cincinnati quarterback of all time. Heading into this season, the former No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft sits at fourth place all-time in Bengals passing touchdowns with 157. However, he is only 47 touchdowns away from Andy Dalton, who is the franchise leader. 

Burrow expressed his confidence in becoming the all-time leader this season when asked by the media about his seasonal goals. 

“I’m pretty close to [the] Bengals franchise touchdown record, I think I’m like 50 or something away, so that’d be nice to break this year,” said Burrow. “You always wanna be MVP, Super Bowl MVP, win a Super Bowl …I’d like to win [MVP] for sure.” Once a reporter told Burrow that he needed 48 touchdowns this season to break the franchise record, he responded with, “Doable.”

While technically and theoretically 48 passing touchdowns is doable, the likelihood is largely against the favor of a standard quarterback. There have only been five instances in NFL history where a quarterback was able to throw at least 48 touchdowns in a season, and the last to do it was Aaron Rodgers in 2020. 

However, there may not be any better quarterback or situation for said quarterback than Burrow in Cincinnati. He possesses an offense that is returning all 11 starters, the same head coach who has taken the team to a Super Bowl in the last five years, arguably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL, and an offensive line that is striving together. Add in an almost completely new defensive unit that is hungry and capable of winning, and now there are endless possibilities for how far this team can go. 

As it pertains to Burrow himself, again, it all comes down to health. In his three seasons when he played at least 16 games, he has thrown for at least 34 touchdowns in each season. Not to mention, just two years ago, he was able to play all 17 games and led the NFL in passing touchdowns, yards, and completions. There should be no doubt that a healthy Burrow can sit at the top of the mountain of quarterbacks, but now he and the Bengals need to go out and prove it in 2026.