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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images

2025 Cincinnati Bengals win total, prediction

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 12:48 PM ET

The Cincinnati Bengals are looking to bounce back from back-to-back 9-8 seasons without a playoff appearance. According to the oddsmakers, Cincy is projected to finish with a similar record for the third straight year.

Regular-season win total: 9.5 (BetMGM)

Outlook: The Bengals have underperformed in recent years for a variety of reasons, but Joe Burrow hasn't been one of them. The star quarterback led the NFL last season in completions (460), passing yards (4,918) and passing touchdowns (43) and ranked second in success rate (53.2 percent) and CPOE (6.8).

You can't blame Burrow's weapons, either. Wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for 2,619 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns in just 29 combined games played. With Chase and Higgins signed to long-term extensions and Chase Brown emerging as an effective three-down running back, this will be one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL in 2025-26.

That's the good news, but what about the bad?

As elite as Cincinnati's quarterback and offensive weapons are, the offensive line isn't getting it done. The Bengals' O-line ranked last in the NFL in pass block win rate last season, marking the fourth straight year in which it ranked 27th or worse. Releasing guard Alex Cappa and replacing him with 31-year-old Lucas Patrick won't be enough to fix those issues, but maybe rookies Dylan Fairchild and Jalen Rivers and new offensive line coach Scott Peters can improve the unit.

most brutal stat you'll read today:

Joe Burrow has been blitzed at the #1 LOWEST rate of any QB the last 4 years

--but--

he has been hit within 2.5 seconds of snap at the #1 HIGHEST rate

Burrow has been hit within 2.5 seconds 25% MORE than the #2 most hit QB in the NFL pic.twitter.com/QOCOmIvRgg
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 1, 2025

The red flags only raise higher when you look at the defensive side of the ball.

Cincinnati ranked 25th in points (25.5) and yards (348.3) allowed, 30th in red-zone touchdown percentage (67.9 percent) and 26th in sack rate (5.9 percent). Those numbers are only going to get worse with defensive end Sam Hubbard retiring and Trey Hendrickson, last year's league leader in sacks, seeking a trade.

If Hendrickson doesn't suit up for the Bengals in 2025, this could end up being the worst defense in football. Cincinnati has no difference-makers at any level and didn't make any notable improvements to that side of the ball this offseason. That just means Burrow, Chase and Higgins will have to be superhuman to keep this team afloat.

According to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, the Bengals rank in the middle of the pack in terms of strength of schedule in 2025. Cincinnati plays four games against the loaded Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Plus, they have non-divisional games against the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills.

Our take: It's easy to be fooled by Cincinnati's flashy top-end talent and explosive passing game, but that can only get you so far in the NFL. The offensive line and defense are projected to be two of the worst units in the NFL, and head coach Zac Taylor isn't good enough to overcome those weaknesses. We expect another disappointing season during Burrow's prime. | Predicted win total: 8

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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