Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (92) tackles Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) in the third quarter of the NFL game at M&T Banks Stadium in Baltimore on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CBS Sports Gives Bengals Wide Range of Best, Worst-Case Scenarios For 2025 NFL Season

Originally posted on Cincinnati Bengals on SI
By Russell Heltman | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 7:16 AM ET

A wide range of outcomes for the 2025 Cincinnati Bengals. CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin thinks the team could win the Super Bowl as the best-case scenario, or play behind the Baltimore Ravens as the worst-case scenario.

Getting back to a second Super Bowl this decade would be music to Bengals fan's ears.

"Joe Burrow keeps slinging it to Ja'Marr Chase, this time behind an even more settled-in front, and gets real defensive support from Al Golden's direction, to surge all the way to their second Super Bowl in five years," Benjamin stated.

The worst-case scenario would be more of the same from the past two seasons. Cincinnati has lost four consecutive games to Baltimore since beating them in the 2023 playoffs.

"One of Cincinnati's 'Big Three' -- Burrow, Chase, Tee Higgins -- misses extended time yet again, and Golden's touch can't offset an overmatched pass rush, as the Bengals play second fiddle to the Ravens," Benjamin wrote.

Health will play a huge factor again this season. The injury to Higgins at the start of last season was arguably the difference in Cincinnati ultimately missing the 2025 playoffs.