4 games that could decide the Cincinnati Bengals’ season

It’s only fitting that Week 1 is an important game for the Bengals and one that will decide what their 2021 season will look like. We’ve heard all offseason about how good these receivers are going to be, how the offensive line is rejuvenated after a lousy year, and how Joe Burrow is ready to rock and roll.

Well, Week 1 against the Vikings is the Bengals’ chance to prove it. The Vikings are a talented team and are kind of hard to figure out honestly but they’re a beatable team for the Bengals. Stripe Hype’s own Dylan Streibig discussed back in May how the matchup against the Vikings is a good measuring stick for Cincinnati and he’s absolutely right.

The Bengals’ run defense was atrocious last year and they’ll have an opportunity right off the bat to show if they’ve improved at all by squaring off against Dalvin Cook. This will also be the first chance Bengals fans get to see Burrow back under center for the first time since Week 11 of last year.

If Burrow goes out there and torches the Vikings, Bengals fans will feel good. If he struggles in his first game back since getting injured, then that could be a very telling factor as to how Cincinnati’s season could go as well.

Week 1 has to be included here because a 1-0 start would be a huge confidence booster for the Bengals while an 0-1 start against a winnable team would be a devastating blow.