Here's where the Bengals rank entering Week 10 (and where they should rank)

The Cincinnati Bengals are rolling on a four-game winning streak, and thankfully, their prime-time Sunday night clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers is just about to go down.

Why do I say thankfully? Because after the awesome win in Madrid over the Falcons, it's been a rough week for the Bengals PR-wise. They botched a trade for Arnold Ebiketie, which sort of killed all the goodwill they've generated over the past month and change.

So yeah. Let's get the focus back on the field, where Joe Burrow is an MVP front-runner and has the 6-2 Bengals poised to seize first place in the AFC North in Week 10.

Bengals' blistering showcase in Madrid has them rising ahead of Sunday night showdown with Steelers

• Tom Brady: 9th (unranked in top-10 previously)
• The Athletic: 7th (up from 10th)
• NFL.com: 5th (up from 8th)
• CBS Sports: 7th (up from 8th)
• ESPN: 7th (up from 10th)

The GOAT Tom Brady doesn't have time to rank all 32 teams. It's dope that he has the Bengals finally inside his top 10. Not sure what took TB12 so long to come around, but a hint lies in the following analysis he provided for Fox Sports:

"You know, Cincy doesn't have a great win on their résumé yet, but that could change against Pittsburgh on Sunday night with first place in the AFC North up for grabs. Burrow just keeps getting better and better every single week. He's got so much chemistry with his star wideouts. I love the way he's playing. He's got command. He's got all the physical tools. He's really coming into his own this year."

Yeah Burrow does kind of just keep rolling along, doesn't he? Glad Brady noticed.

If the Bengals hadn't gift-wrapped 10 points to the Steelers in Pittsburgh in Week 3, and had Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins not gotten injured in Week 4 against the Jaguars, we could be looking at an 8-0 team. That's how close it's been.

You can't apologize for who's on your schedule. Come on, Tom. Don't act like you didn't get six virtual layups per season when you were playing in the utterly incompetent AFC East division. Your schedule was easy every year!

The AFC North is no picnic no matter what. Yes, the Ravens are in shambles, but the Browns somehow have a winning record and the Steelers are indeed still in the mix for the playoffs (and the division crown).

Where the Bengals should actually rank entering Week 10

If quarterback is weighted so heavily in the equation of a football team/overall operation, how aren't the Bengals higher than a consensus seventh between these five NFL power rankings?

Been saying this for what's going on the third week running: The Bengals are a top-three team at the very least. Burrow is a top-three QB, and he ain't No. 3. I said what I said. In fact, my colleagues and I agree that Burrow is at worst the second-best quarterback in the sport.

And is there a better defensive tackle going right now than Dexter Lawrence? He's single-handedly changing the Bengals' defense.

You just can't convince me that Cincinnati wouldn't smash the teams ranked ahead of them on a neutral field. Give me the Bills, 49ers, Broncos, Chiefs, Bears, or whoever.

With the exception of Josh Allen in Buffalo, as of this moment, in November 2026, we have the better quarterback. And we have the better game-wrecker on defense. And the best offensive weapons by far on any of those teams.

Seventh in the power rankings? Laughable. Time to change some minds on Sunday night.

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