The 2020 Cincinnati Bengals have a very talented roster...

[Swagnificent]

So I've been very high on the Cincinnati Bengals going into the last 2 NFL seasons. In fact, in 2018, I even called them a Super Bowl contender: https://www.thecoli.com/threads/why...-2018-they-are-a-super-bowl-contender.656832/

Two years later, they still have a very talented roster outside of the QB position. I think their poor record in 2019 was an abberation. I wouldn't be surprised if they have a worst to first one year transformation like the 2019 San Francisco 49ers.

 

[Illeye buckmatic]

Them nikkas finishing last in the AFC north

 

[Stop_It_5]

If Burrow stinks = bump that bust thread

If Burrow balls = bump this talented roster thread

the swag hedge

 

[Street Knowledge]

If Burrow stinks = bump that bust thread

If Burrow balls = bump this talented roster thread

the swag hedge

you see it don’t you

 

[Swagnificent]

If Burrow stinks = bump that bust thread

If Burrow balls = bump this talented roster thread

the swag hedge

I actually would've made this prediction if Andy Dalton was still their QB. I mean I did say in 2018 the Bengals were a Super Bowl contender with Andy Dalton as their starter. Bad QBs can be carried by great football teams. We see it every year. However, its when that bad QB gets paid like a superstar (i.e. Jared Goff) that his obvious lack of talent gets exposed.

 

[Swagnificent]

Them nikkas finishing last in the AFC north

Maybe. Or maybe they go worst to first like the 2019 49ers.

All I know is that roster has really good players at nearly every positions. Similar to last year's 49ers. However, for some reason they have underachieved the last two years. I don't think they are as bad as that 2-14 record they had last year. They are a more talented team.

 

[Illeye buckmatic]

Maybe. Or maybe they go worst to first like the 2019 49ers.

All I know is that roster has really good players at nearly every positions. Similar to last year's 49ers. However, for some reason they have underachieved the last two years. I don't think they are as bad as that 2-14 record they had last year. They are a more talented team.

It's not even about them. It's The other three teams. Ravens is sb ready. Browns is stacked on both sides and fixed their oline. Their best shot is passing the Steelers but I don't see that happening this year.

 

[Swagnificent]

you see it don’t you

Stop comparing me to yall. I never hedge. I'm the guy who said Jared Goff was trash at the height of his popularity: https://www.thecoli.com/threads/i-hope-no-one-is-falling-for-this-jared-goff-mirage.584599/

Joe Burrow is a bust. Him going to a talented team that might hide his garbage ass for a year or two like Jared Goff was hidden in 2017 and 2018 changes nothing. My player projections are over an entire career while by team predictions are year to year based on the overall roster.

A garbage QB can be hidden for a short period of time by a talented team. It happens every year. See the 2019 San Francisco 49ers, the 2018 LA Rams, the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars, the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles, the 2017 Minnesota Vikings, and so on. Were Jimmy Garoppolo, Jared Goff, Blake Bortles, Nick Foles, and Case Keenum elite QBs? Or did they simply benefit from talented rosters?

Don't sleep on the Bengals. They have a very talented roster outside of the QB position.

 

[Remote]

You were high on the Bengals the last 2 seasons?
The team with Andy Dalton as their quarterback?

Sure you were. You saw the fantasy football projections for Joe Mixon the last 2 years and now figure that he will put it all together with a more-competent-than-Dalton behind center and now the Bengals will be good.

What Twitter feed are you following now that has you making this "prediction" on the coli?

 

[Swagnificent]

It's not even about them. It's The other three teams. Ravens is sb ready. Browns is stacked on both sides and fixed their oline. Their best shot is passing the Steelers but I don't see that happening this year.

Big Ben is 38 years old and just had a serious elbow injury. The Steelers could be in full rebuilding mode. The Ravens are a Lamar Jackson injury away from irrelevance. And while the Browns are talented, they have a first year head coach and expectations weighing them down.

Outside of me and maybe a few die-hard Bengals fans, nobody has expectations for this football team. Teams flourish when there is zero pressure and expectations. All I know is if you ignore the team records from last year and just look at the rosters, the Bengals are right there with the Ravens and Browns when it comes to raw talent. People just overlook that talent because they went 2-14 last year.

 

[Dr. Narcisse]

Joe Burrow

Hate to see Swag mess up his QB breakdown reputation like that

 

[Swagnificent]

You were high on the Bengals the last 2 seasons?
The team with Andy Dalton as their quarterback?

Sure you were. You saw the fantasy football projections for Joe Mixon the last 2 years and now figure that he will put it all together with a more-competent-than-Dalton behind center and now the Bengals will be good.

Did you even read the thread I linked in the OP? I had them going 12-4 in 2018 and being a potential Super Bowl team. And I've been hyping Joe Mixon since 2018: https://www.thecoli.com/threads/joe-mixon-is-the-next-corey-dillon.653177/#post-30649424

I had Tee Higgins as the top receiver in the 2020 Draft. AJ Green is a perennial Top 5 WR. Tyler Boyd is an amazing slot receiver. Gio Bernard is as good a backup RB as there is in the league. And on defense, I think William Jackson III is one of the best CBs in the league. Jessie Bates is an emerging star at safety. Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap are two of the best defensive lineman in the league.

The QB is just one guy. A great roster can hide a mediocre QB. Look no further than the 2019 San Francisco 49ers who made it to the Super Bowl with garbage ass Jimmy Garoppolo. Or the 2018 Los Angeles Rams with fugazi Jared Goff.

 

[Maluma]

This pedophile said cancer patient looking Josh Dobbs was the next great NFL QB

 

[FaTaL]

Maybe. Or maybe they go worst to first like the 2019 49ers.

All I know is that roster has really good players at nearly every positions. Similar to last year's 49ers. However, for some reason they have underachieved the last two years. I don't think they are as bad as that 2-14 record they had last year. They are a more talented team.

They don’t have Shanahan or the 49ers d-line.

 

[Swagnificent]

Joe Burrow

Hate to see Swag mess up his QB breakdown reputation like that

- 2019 49ers made it to the Super Bowl with Jimmy Garoppolo

- 2018 Rams made it to the Super Bowl with Jared Goff

- 2017 Eagles won the Super Bowl with Nick Foles


Mediocre and trash QBs get carried by great rosters all the time. True greatness at the QB position comes from being good year in and year out. Especially when you are no longer on that rookie contract and can't have a super talented roster assembled around you. It doesn't come from just having one good season.

I never waver or back down from my draft evaluations. Joe Burrow is not worth the 1st overall pick. He is an Andy Dalton clone AT BEST. With that said, Andy Dalton made the playoffs almost every year to start his career because of the talent around him. That didn't make him an elite QB.