Cincinnati Bengals Climb in Power Rankings for Second Week

Nov 23, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) scores a touchdown in the third quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. The Bengals beat the Texans 22-19. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

A month ago, we were talking about an all out free fall after losing to the Patriots and Colts, plus tying the Panthers. Now we are talking about them climbing back into the top 10 in a few of this weeks NFL Power Rankings. The questions still remains every week, which Bengals team will we see, but when the Bengals are good, they are almost unbeatable. The Panel at ESPN.com had the breaking back into the top 10 at #10 this week in the rankings and in large part to the performance of AJ Green.

"A.J. Green has caught 18-of-24 targets for 248 yards in the past two weeks, showing no lingering effects from his toe injury. Back-to-back road wins look good for Cincinnati."

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com is still high on the Bengals and although he has them ranked the highest when they started the free fall. He pushed them to #7 in this weeks power rankings

"The defense is getting healthy, and that’s showing in the past two weeks. Winning consecutive road games is never easy like they just did. Now they have a third at Tampa Bay."

Elliot Harrison of NFL.com agreed with ESPN that the Bengals deserve a spot in the top 10 and also placed at #10 they were impressed by this Bengals team as a whole and had this to say:

"Andy Dalton and the Bengals deliver again, with much help from the formerly ineffective defense, which has looked fantastic on this southern road stretch. We should circle back to the ” Giovani Bernard or Jeremy Hill” debate, which still doesn’t look like a debate (not if you watch the games)."

Finally, Foxsports.com proved itself once again as the lowest rankings on the Bengals, and way to over rated on teams like KC, Miami, and Baltimore. They have them ranked at #12.

"With A.J. Green finally close to 100 percent healthy, the Bengals offense has become two-dimensional again. The defense is playing much better over the last month, but they’re a clear step below their 2013 form against both the run and pass."

The Bengals head to Tampa to take on a Buccaneers team that can’t be taken lightly, as the Steelers found out. A convincing win there will make them 3-0 on the road trip and will keep them at the top of a tough AFC North division.