Three reasons the Bengals will win the AFC North

The AFC North may be the most competitive division in the NFL in 2023 with every team seemingly getting better this offseason. Here are three reasons the Bengals will take the North.

Joe Burrow

What hasn't been already said about Joe Cool? He has turned Cincinnati's franchise around, making back-to-back AFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance over the past two seasons. Burrow has also led the Bengals to two straight AFC North titles and there aren't any apparent reasons that he won't be able to repeat that success in 2023.

Skill-wise, Burrow is probably the second-best quarterback to Patrick Mahomes right now. That said, Burrow did start 3-0 vs. Mahomes to start his career, along with posting a better completion percentage (69.4 percent) and passer rating (104.5) than him the past two years. However, Burrow has his sights on overtaking Mahomes if given the chance.

"I don't think there's any argument right now. It's Patrick [Mahomes] until someone has a better year than he's had. He's the one to knock off," Burrow says.

Chase, Higgins and Boyd

Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd have a strong case for being the best wide receiver trio in the NFL and an even stronger argument as the best in the North. They combined for 2,837 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2022 and will likely only continue to get better with Burrow.

Cincinnati may not only be the best offense in the division, but they might also top the entire league in 2023. This is largely to do with these three players. Chase missed five games last season with a hip injury but still tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns (nine) in the NFL. If not for Chase, Higgins would probably be a WR1 on a large percentage of teams.

A complete O-line

The Bengals have been rebuilding their offensive line for a couple of seasons now and it might finally be complete after signing left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency. The biggest question mark on the O-line remains at right tackle, but Cincinnati has a couple of options. 

La'el Collins, who tore his ACL late in the season, will be the starter if healthy but his timeline to return is still unknown. Jonah Williams, who requested a trade from the team following the Brown Jr. signing, has experience playing on both sides and has since welcomed the thought of playing for the Bengals in 2023.

"There's 64 tackles spots in the league," Williams said. "To have any of them is a crazy amazing opportunity. And I'm super grateful, you know, for the chance. So, you know, the plan is to play me at right tackle."