StripeHype
FanSided

Cincinnati Bengals: Two weeks of preseason shows how strong AFC North could be

By Steve Rivera

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 27: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on from the line of scrimmage against the Washington Redskins in the first half during a preseason game at FedExField on August 27, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 27: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on from the line of scrimmage against the Washington Redskins in the first half during a preseason game at FedExField on August 27, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
LANDOVER, MD – AUGUST 15: Head coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on against the Washington Redskins during the first half of a preseason game at FedExField on August 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – AUGUST 15: Head coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on against the Washington Redskins during the first half of a preseason game at FedExField on August 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

The Cincinnati Bengals may not be 2-0, but at 1-1 in a preseason with a lot still to come, what you see is a team getting better. Head coach Zac Taylor is building something in the Queen City. With some questions already answered, he’ll use the next two weeks to ready his team for the opener in Seattle.

Ok, so here is what we know. On offense, the Bengals depth chart at receiver is getting a good long look. That’s a significant development long-term as A.J. Green and John Ross continue to miss valuable playing time in Taylor’s new offense. In their absence, players like Auden Tate and Damion Willis have an opportunity to breakthrough.

Elsewhere, the offensive line is still a work in progress, injuries have slowed the evaluation process, and at some point, the organization is going to have to make a move via the waiver wire.

As great as all the good feelings are around the Bengals, it will still boil down to winning football games. As constructed, that is a hard proposition. But fans in Cincinnati and the division should remember that eventually, Taylor will get some of that firepower back. With two weeks left in the preseason, he has a chance to see what his September firewall of reserves will look like.

Home/Bengals News