The Cincinnati Bengals have a real argument as the best bet among the NFL’s 12 Super Bowl-less franchises, at least if you buy ESPN’s Booger McFarland.
McFarland, when asked to size up those teams’ chances, said Cincinnati was the one he’d circle as most likely to finally break through in the 2026 season. His reasoning came down to both sides of the ball.
“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.”
For Bengals fans, the timing of that endorsement is a little surreal. McFarland will see Cincinnati open Week 1 against the team that made him a first-round pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. The former Tampa Bay defensive tackle went on to win a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2003, so there’s a neat little twist here: the Bengals could begin a potential title run by beating McFarland’s old club.
The other teams in the mix for this kind of prediction were the Bills, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, Cardinals, Chargers, Titans, Browns, Jaguars, Lions, and Texans.
Still, there’s a difference between being the most likely of a tough group and actually being the favorite in a full-blown Super Bowl forecast. That context matters. The Bengals are on this list in the first place because they’ve never finished the job, and only the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings have made more Super Bowls without winning one.
So yes, McFarland’s pick is a good sign for Cincinnati. But it’s also a reminder of where the Bengals stand: close enough to be taken seriously, not close enough to be called champions yet.
And if you’re looking for a team in a worse spot, the Cleveland Browns are right there across the aisle. They’ve never even been to a Super Bowl, and nobody is penciling them in for one now.
In Other News...
Bengals Suddenly Have A Week 1 Concern In The Secondary
A new Week 1 concern surfaced in Cincinnati when cornerback DJ Turner showed up on the injury report with a hamstring issue after a limited practice. The timing is less than ideal with the season opener looming, especially since Turner is expected to handle the matchup against wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. It adds a little more uncertainty to a secondary that would rather spend the final days before kickoff tightening up its communication than managing late-week health questions.
The Bengals have spent plenty of time this offseason talking up their readiness for the new year, with JaMarr Chases career milestones also part of the broader conversation around what the offense could do next. But defensive availability can change the tone of a Week 1 game quickly, and Turners status is now one of the more important things to watch as Cincinnati finalizes its plan. If he is less than full speed, the Bengals may have to adjust on the fly in a spot where they would prefer not to be improvising. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Veterans Are Quietly Protecting What Cincinnati Still Has Open
While the Bengals have spent plenty of time this season sorting out their bigger-picture questions, a quieter kind of work has been happening behind the scenes from a few veterans who know how to steady a locker room. Jalen Davis has become a useful presence in the secondary, where his day-to-day influence has helped cornerback DJ Turner keep growing, and Joe Flacco has stepped into the backup quarterback role with the kind of experience that can calm a room full of younger players.
The value of those voices goes beyond practice reps and game-day insurance. Cincinnati has leaned on veterans before, but this mix of leadership and mentorship matters because it reaches into two spots the team still needs to keep strong: the back end of the defense and the quarterback room. With Joe Burrow at the center of everything, Flaccos presence gives the Bengals an extra layer of support, while Davis continues to be part of the shaping of a secondary that still has room to mature. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Already Face One 2026 Trap Zac Taylor Can't Ignore
JaMarr Chase and Tee Higgins used Chases podcast to take a grounded look at Cincinnatis 2026 slate, even as outside projections have already painted it as one of the softer paths in the league. The Bengals top receivers made it clear they are not buying into the idea that any week offers a free pass, which is usually the right instinct in a league where schedules can look very different by December than they did in the spring.
Higgins also pointed to the way Zac Taylor approaches the grind, with the coaching staff treating every opponent like a real test instead of leaning on preseason reputation. That matters for Cincinnati, because schedule rankings based on past win percentage or Vegas forecasts can be useful shorthand, but they are still only guesses until the season starts and teams reveal who they really are. [Read more 🡒]