Most of the talk around the Cincinnati Bengals this season has been around their defense, and rightfully so. After investing in the defense this offseason, fans have high expectations for this unit coming into the year. When you add Super Bowl champions and All-Pros to your lineup, there will be a ton on eyes on your unit.
That being said, the other reason that many pay attention to the Bengals' defense is that most fans expect the Bengals' offense to continue... well, being the Bengals offense. Cincinnati's attack is considered as one of the most explosive units in the league, held back only by factors seemingly out of their range.
Despite that, it's still worth looking at the Bengals' offensive unit and what the best-case scenario for each player moving forward. Let's project three scenarios that would indicate that Cincinnati is on the right track on offense.
Joe Burrow stays healthy, finds 2024 form again
Of course, any success the Bengals will experience in 2026 will hinge on Joe Burrow's health. While Cincinnati's attack was solid when Joe Flacco came in for the injured star, it's clear that the team reaches a different level with Burrow under center.
That being said, a healthy Burrow doesn't quite mean that he'll be playing to the best of his abilities. The Bengals quarterback played in just eight games last season, throwing for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions while completing 66.8% of his passes. If you extrapolate that over a 17 game season, he would have had 3,844 yards: far below his usual production. He was on pace for 36 touchdowns, which would have been awesome, but his efficiency and yardage took a significant hit last year.
For the Bengals to make a run at the Super Bowl, though, Burrow will need to play like his 2024 self again. In that season, the Bengals quarterback completed over 70% of his passes for 4,918 yards, 47 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions. Part of the reason for this explosive season is by necessity, as the Bengals had to play catch-up for most of the year, yes. But if Burrow can crack 4,500 yards with around 40 touchdowns, Cincinnati will be in a good place this season.
Ja'Marr Chase breaks Randy Moss' touchdown record
Ja'Marr Chase has already cemented himself as arguably the best receiver in the NFL this year. Through five seasons, the ex-LSU product has been a consistent threat. Now, though, Chase has his sights set on a much larger goal: breaking records that are thought to be unbreakable.
Speaking in a recent interview, Chase said that his personal goal this season is to break Randy Moss' single-season touchdown record. While he did say that his ultimate target is to win the Super Bowl, the Bengals star is setting a lofty bar for himself by targeting Moss' record.
It's not as far-fetched as you might think. During Chase' Triple Crown campaign in 2024, he caught a grand total of 17 touchdowns to lead the NFL. That's tied for the fourth-most receiving touchdowns in a season, and the most since Davante Adams had 18 for Green Bay in 2021. Chase also had a healthy Burrow throwing him the ball in that game, which is already a prerequisite for this elite Bengals season.
Chase' breakaway speed and route running makes him a threat to score a touchdown any time he touches the ball. If he plays at an even higher level than his 2024 campaign, the Bengals are going to be nigh-unstoppable
Chase Brown, Bengals' offensive line continues to be sneakily good
There's a lot of talk about the Bengals' passing attack, and rightfully so. On paper, it's one of the most explosive units in the league. Burrow, Chase, and Tee Higgins are a trio that most teams would love to have on their teams. When they're all in top form, very few units are able to shut them down.
Over the course of last season, though, there's been an interesting development on the other side of the offense. With Burrow out for more than half of the season, Cincinnati had to rely a little more on their rushing attack to get the job done. Chase Brown and the Bengals' offensive line did more than enough on that end, finishing in the top five in both rushing EPA and rush success rate, per Joe Goodberry. The trend continued even when Burrow returned from his turf toe injury.
Given the success of this rushing attack, it would be best if Zac Taylor and Dan Pitcher starts relying on the run game a little more. The Bengals will always be a predominantly pass-heavy team with Burrow under center, but a few more touches for Brown (Cincinnati finished bottom-five in rush attempts last year) should help them out. Even with limited touches, Brown finished with 1,019 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while also catching 69 yards for 437 yards and five touchdowns.
Imagine what Brown can do with more?
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