Are the Bengals officially back amid three-game winning streak?

After a rough 1-3 start to the season during which QB Joe Burrow was clearly not healthy dealing with a calf injury, the Cincinnati Bengals have seemingly turned their season around. Are they officially back to being one of the NFL's elite teams?

That seems to be the case after knocking off the 5-3 San Fransisco 49ers, 31-17, Sunday. Cincinnati is now on a three-game winning streak and looks almost unstoppable.

Burrow completed 28-of-32 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns through the air and added 43 yards on the ground. It was certainly a statement game against San Francisco's defense, which has allowed the fifth-fewest points per game (17.5) and eighth-fewest total yards per game (315).

It wasn't just a great day for the offense either. Cincinnati's defense, which has allowed the sixth-most total yards per game (370.7), also got back to its dominant ways, forcing three turnovers despite surrendering 460 yards to the Niners.

The 49ers offense is no pushover either. It is the fifth-best in points per game (27.3) and the sixth-best in total yards per game (376.6).

It was exactly the performance the Bengals needed following the bye week, and the rest of the NFL must be kicking itself for letting them stick around.

There is still a lot of season left, and Cincinnati is now tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns with a 4-3 record in the AFC North, trailing the 6-2 Baltimore Ravens for the division lead.

However, Cincy's schedule doesn't get any easier. The Bengals are set to host the Bills (5-3), who are averaging the fourth-most points per game (27.8) and allowing the third-fewest points per game (17), on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 9.