Pro Football Network Ranks Bengals Defense Among NFL's Worst For 2025 Season

  Pro Football Network dropped their 2025 NFL defense rankings and the site is not high on the Bengals—at all. They have them performing even worse than last season and finishing 28th overall.

It will be very difficult to crack the playoff field if the defense is this bad.

"Remember in 2022 when this looked like a franchise with balance and staying power?" The article states. "They were our 11th-best defense that season and trending toward the elite tier of the conference, but with 27th and 28th Defense+ finishes, Cincinnati has looked more like a one-trick pony over the past two years than a legitimate threat to the top tier of the AFC.

"In 2024, this was the second-worst run defense in terms of success rate, which needs to be corrected sooner rather than later. If they can’t stop the run, things crumble from the inside out, and they have no chance. Trey Hendrickson is back, and edge Shemar Stewart was added with the 17th overall pick. Due to the offensive upside on this roster, this unit doesn’t need to be one of the 10 best in the sport, but finishing in the bottom third of the league will cut out the legs of any long-term plans they were hoping for. This defense will be under the most pressure to rebound in 2025. If that occurs, they will be a real contender."

It's hard to argue for Cincinnati to be a lot better given the personnel moves this offseason involving upgrades at just one spot: Defensive tackle TJ Slaton.

Other than that, Cincinnati is relying on a resolution with Hendrickson and hopes that Al Golden can do more with largely the same pieces than Lou Anarumo could. The Bengals offense should be elite, but it can only take them so far in the ultimate team sport.