The Cincinnati Bengals are one of 12 NFL franchises to have never won a Super Bowl. Now, the race is on for those teams to exit that sad category and enter the championship wing of America’s number one sport.
With the defensive overhaul and Joe Burrow’s urgency to win today rather than hoping for tomorrow, there is hope that a title change will arrive on the banks of The Queen City.
And there is at least one NFL analyst who believes that the Bengals have the best shot of all the championship-less franchises to become the team that brings home the Lombardi Trophy for the first time.
Booger McFarland favors Bengals over the field
Recently, when asked about the 12 teams’ chances, ESPN’s ‘Booger’ McFarland said that the Bengals were the most likely team among those that have yet to win a Super Bowl to do so in the 2026 season.
McFarland stated in part, “I would lean toward the Cincinnati Bengals. I think that with the addition of Dexter Lawrence on defense, I think when you look at what else they brought in Jonathan Allen, Cashius up front I think they're gonna be able to pressure the quarterback. And then offensively, I know what they can do with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr, Chase, and Tee Higgins … I think the Bengals just might get it done.”
McFarland putting the Bengals at the top of his list now is incredible happenstance, as Cincinnati will take on the team in Week 1 that made him a first-round pick in the 1999 NFL Draft.
The former Tampa Bay defensive tackle won the Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2003. It would be wonderfully ironic if the Bengals started their Super Bowl season 1-0 against McFarland’s former team.
Other teams McFarland could have chosen from included the Bills, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, Cardinals, Chargers, Titans, Browns, Jaguars, Lions, and Texans.
Adding perspective to McFarland’s pick
Before we get too excited about ‘Booger’ stating that Cincinnati will win the Super Bowl, we must remember the context.
Among those 12 teams available for him to pick, the Bengals were the most likely, in his opinion. However, it is unfortunate that the Bengals are on this list at all. Only the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings have been to more Super Bowls without winning than the Bengals.
Furthermore, the Cincinnati Bengals are highly unlikely to be the ESPN analyst’s pick for the Super Bowl once those predictions come out. And given his history with the Tampa Bay, if it came down to those two teams, it would be understandable if he went with the Buccaneers.
Nevertheless, it could be worse. Cincinnati's longest rival, the Cleveland Browns, have never even been to a Super Bowl. And you can be sure no one is picking them to win the Super Bowl this year under any circumstances or hypothetical scenarios. They can't even manage to pick a quarterback.
At least Booger chose Cincinnati over Buffalo, which most talking heads would pick on this list.
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