Bengals AFC North bold predictions: Best-coached division in the NFL
The AFC North is already home to two of the best coaches in the entire league in Mike Tomlin of the Steelers and John Harbaugh of the Ravens. Each of them has a Super Bowl victory under their belt along with an incredible win percentage (64.2% for Tomlin, 61.5% for Harbaugh).
That duo alone may be enough to make the division one of the best-coached in the league, but the Bengals’ man at the helm has the potential to put the AFC North over the top.
Zac Taylor had a forgettable start to his head coaching career, there’s no denying that. In his defense though, he got an extremely late start due to his own Super Bowl run with his former team, the Rams. The draft and free agency period were clearly rushed and disorganized because of it.
Not to mention, arguably the team’s best player, A.J. Green, didn’t take the field and first-round pick, Jonah Williams, was lost to injury as well. It wasn’t ideal, especially considering the state of the rest of the roster he inherited.
He’s now got his guys in place, with most of Marvin Lewis’ players out the door. With Joe Burrow and a defense that looks much improved, it will give Taylor a chance to prove just how bright his football mind is.
Just listen to any interview from Taylor. He’s got much more confidence than you would expect from a coach that won just two games in his first season and oversaw the release of a nine-year veteran quarterback. He’s got faith in what he’s building. He’s convinced Bengals brass as well, as fans witnessed a total reversal in their usual philosophies in this past offseason.
He won’t be able to convince everybody until he puts it all together on the field though. Don’t be surprised if he does just that and gives the AFC North a trio of outstanding coaches.