No. 10 Cardinals | No. 12 Lions | AFC North | Full List
No. 11: CINCINNATI BENGALS
Last Season: 10-6
Second place, AFC North; lost 26-10 to Colts in wild-card round
The Bengals have made the playoffs in each of Andy Dalton's four seasons -- but clearly require some changes: one, a more run-oriented attack that OC Hue Jackson began implementing last season. Expect the Bengals to lean heavily on RB Jeremy Hill, who rushed for 1,124 yards on just 222 carries in 2014. And two: returning their defense to the snarling, physical style that Marvin Lewis believes is needed to compete in the AFC North. Cincy dropped from second to 15th in defensive EPA last season, so it's betting big on a healthier Vontaze Burfict and newly re-signed DE Michael Johnson to turn around the unit. -- Mike Sando
The Bengals and playoff football have been synonymous the past four seasons, so it makes sense to assume Cincinnati will reach the postseason for a franchise-record fifth straight year. With very little changes being made to the roster this offseason, the Bengals have the type of depth to go on another run into January. But the obvious question remains: Can they finally win once postseason play arrives? They haven't done that since 1991. It depends in large part on how well Andy Dalton plays at the end of the season.
While its roster is loaded in key places, as it has been in recent seasons, Cincinnati still has to go through the division that's arguably the toughest in the NFL. Three teams from the AFC North reached the playoffs last year (Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pittsburgh), but it will be tough to see that happening again, particularly considering all four AFC North teams have schedules that rank among the league's 11-toughest. End-of-year, prime-time games at Denver and San Francisco could certainly hamper the Bengals' repeat chances, especially considering Andy Dalton's problems under the national television lights.
Bengals' percentage chance to win each game
Sept. 13 @ Oakland: 62.2
Sept. 20 vs. San Diego: 60.8
Sept. 27 @ Baltimore: 39.8
Oct. 4 vs. Kansas City: 56.6
Oct. 11 @ Seattle: 45.1
Oct. 18 @ Buffalo: 44.6
Nov. 1 @ Pittsburgh: 45.1
Nov. 5 vs. Cleveland: 69.8
Nov. 16 vs. Houston: 56.9
Nov. 22 @ Arizona: 42.0
Nov. 29 vs. St. Louis: 62.6
Dec. 6 @ Cleveland: 57.5
Dec. 13 vs. Pittsburgh: 56.3
Dec. 20 @ San Francisco: 52.3
Dec. 28 @ Denver: 34.4
Jan. 3 vs. Baltimore: 53.4
Coley Harvey's game-by-game predictions
Again, with few changes having been made to their roster this past offseason, the Bengals enter 2015 with roughly the same team they had last year. Defensive end Michael Johnson and linebacker A.J. Hawk are the biggest additions, with Johnson returning to the team that drafted him after spending one year away. With a mostly set roster, that means the single biggest change rests with the Bengals' health. Compared to the middle of last season, when both starting tight ends, two key receivers, a star running back, one standout offensive tackle and a Pro Bowl linebacker were hurt for multiple weeks, the Bengals begin this season in much better shape. Only the presence of linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been missing in the preseason.
Team president Mike Brown is cautiously optimistic about how the Bengals' season will play out. A realist, Brown relayed his concern over the Bengals' schedule - rated the second-toughest based off last season's team winning percentages -- just before the start of training camp. But he, like others around the team, sees very few weaknesses on the roster. On the heels of a 10-win season that included an avalanche of injuries, the Bengals feel confident that if they can stay healthy this year, playoff albatross might finally come off their backs.
For the first time in a generation, there will be pride in February in Cincinnati. After making it through a challenging regular-season schedule that might be decided in the finale at home against Baltimore, the Bengals will not only make it back to the playoffs, but they will build up a little momentum and win a first-round playoff game for the first time since 1991. If they end up losing that postseason opener or not advancing out of the regular season at all, then the chatter around the Bengals will be the exact same as it's been the past three offseasons. Marvin Lewis' job security will be a hot storyline, and the calls for his position will grow louder than they ever have before.
No. 10 Cardinals | No. 12 Lions | AFC North | Full List
