Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws in the second quarter during Super Bowl 56 against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Nfl Super Bowl 56 Los Angeles Rams Vs Cincinnati Bengals Feb 13 2022 1405 Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

CBS Sports Names Bengals Among Top-Three Candidates to Win First Super Bowl

Originally posted on Cincinnati Bengals on SI
By Russell Heltman | Last updated May 30, 2025 8:06 AM ET

The Bengals do things their own way compared to the rest of the NFL, but it hasn't led to a single Super Bowl victory since 1968.

CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin thinks that has a decent shot to change this coming season. He ranked the Bengals third among teams most likely to win the big game for the first time.

"Not even Joe Burrow's MVP-level passing production could get the Bengals into the playoffs last time around, which is real cause for concern," Benjamin wrote. "But the defense can't be much worse with Al Golden now atop that staff, and we won't have contract drama surrounding Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins going into September. If somehow Zac Taylor can get his team ready to roll out of the gate rather than halfway through the year, the Bengals should return to form as a challenger to the AFC powerhouses."

Only the Lions and Bills ranked above Cincinnati on the list as all three continue that desperate search for a first title.

The Super Bowl is way down the line, first Cincinnati needs to give itself the best chance at a long playoff run by pursuing a first-round bye as the AFC's top seed.

Step by step.