Here's where the Bengals rank during Week 6 bye (and where they should be ranked)

The Cincinnati Bengals would've really been up against it if they'd lost to the Miami Dolphins before their Week 6 bye. Thankfully, Bengals fans didn't have to live in a reality where that was the case.

Ja'Marr Chase rallied back from a concussion to make one of the most spectacular touchdown catches of the year, Joe Burrow threw four TDs, and the defense uh...did enough to win 31-24. The scoreboard was a bit a "deceptively close" type of deal.

Still, a win is a win, even if it wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing. And that bought the Bengals some currency in the newest batch of Week 6 NFL power rankings.

Bengals largely get what they deserve in latest roundup of NFL power rankings

• NFL.com: 9th (no change)
• Fox Sports: 12th (down from 11th)
• CBS Sports: 9th (up from 14th)
• ESPN: 12th (up from 15th)
• The Athletic: 13th (up from 15th)

Some actual good analysis here by ESPN beat reporter Ben Baby:

"The Bengals lead the NFL in giving up 21 carries of 10 or more yards, per ESPN Research. Seventeen of those have come the past three weeks. Even in Week 5, the Bengals surrendered 217 rushing yards, including 80 yards over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Improving the run defense will be crucial with the Bengals set to face Derrick Henry and the Ravens after the upcoming bye week."

I wish I could say something else of note was said in those other pieces but that was not really the case. To be fair it's hard to be that incisive about all 32 teams. Unless you're me and you're a genuine sicko-savant type. But that's neither here nor there.

Yes, as I wrote on Monday, the Bengals' run defense is still a major concern. They got off to a hot start and seemed to quell any red flags from 2025, where they finished dead-last versus the run.

But those problems of yesteryear are rearing their ugly head. Barrett Carter looks like he's out there with a blindfold on sometimes when he's trying to fit the run I swear. Who knows. Maybe Jack Kiser will help. He can tackle and fit the run. Or at least he could under Al Golden at Notre Dame. Ha-ha.

Where the Bengals should be ranked during Week 6 idle time

You are what your record says you are in a lot of ways in the NFL. I just think it's a stretch to suggest the New England Patriots, whose quarterback Drake Maye forgot how to play football at the start of the season, being ranked eighth to the Bengals' 13th by The Athletic is a bit of a bridge too far.

A good excuse to plug this again. Drake "The Schedule" Maye will have another blow-up soon. you can just see it coming from a mile away.

I would rank the Bengals at a healthy 11th. They're 10th in the AFC standings right now, so that seems a little ridiculous on its face. But it's a crowded lot. The tiebreakers that have them way back aren't going to last forever. The cream will rise to the top.

OK fine. I'll provide my actual hierarchy of teams I believe are better than Cincinnati today. Good thing there's a lot of season left!

• 1. Kansas City Chiefs
• 2. San Francisco 49ers
• 3. Minnesota Vikings
• 4. Jacksonville Jaguars
• 5. Seattle Seahawks
• 6. Baltimore Ravens
• 7. Buffalo Bills
• 8. Detroit Lions
• 9. Atlanta Falcons
• 10. Chicago Bears
• 11. Cincinnati Bengals

Before you flip out about the Falcons, they're only one game worse than the Bengals, should've beaten the Ravens if Michael Penix Jr. wasn't hurt, and they're about to show who they really are against the Bears and 49ers at home in consecutive weeks.

If Penix is healthy, I like their chances against either of those teams, even if Caleb Williams is back for Chicago. Should only add to the intrigue of the Bengals-Falcons duel in Madrid, which looks mightily more appealing now than it did at the dawn of the season.

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