Four reasons the Cincinnati Bengals will start the 2019 season 2-2

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks gestures before a play in the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

The Cincinnati Bengals open their 2019 season with a road trip to play the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle, easily the second-best team in the NFC West, will be a tough opener for the Bengals. Russell Wilson remains one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, and despite a drop in talent in recent years, he’s kept his team a playoff contender.

Week 1 is no easy trip. Cincinnati, who has questions on the defensive side of the football, will be up against a team and a quarterback who is still solid at its core. The Seahawks were a team who spent a lot of time flirting with .500 last season before finding a second wind and making the playoffs.

Seattle is a tough place to play, much less open the season. They enjoy one of the best home-field advantages and have been a consistent winner at home. Wilson, who is still at the top of his game, can practically will his team to a win. Against a Cincinnati defense who will still be looking to establish an identity, Wilson could have a big day.

This is no knock on the Bengals. A lot of teams have gone to the Pacific Northwest and come away with a loss. Look for Cincinnati to do the same.