I fear extra about Joe Burrow’s window closing as a result of since reaching that LA Tremendous Bowl in 2022, Cincinnati haven’t seemed the identical.
I do not know if I belief their organisation to draft and produce within the depth they want. In Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals have the NFL’s most costly offence, from a wage cap perspective.
It is all the time been capable of hum slightly, however the offensive line nonetheless wants strengthening and the defensive position, specifically, has been anaemic.
That they had this bizarre pre-season, not wanting to offer Trey Hendrickson the contract he wished, and so they’ve drafted some good younger gamers, however why did they not do that years in the past?
When the Bengals had a back-up QB in there, it confirmed how a lot Burrow does for the staff and the way he actually extends performs. He’s a freak of nature.
He is the sort of man that you really want within the play-offs, within the Tremendous Bowl, as a result of he will get extra harmful because the season goes on. However it’s unhappy to suppose all three of those quarterbacks will not be there this time.
Different groups are stepping up, since you’re drafting to sort of beat the blokes in your division. Within the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers have all the time been constant, however 100% it ought to have been the Ravens or Bengals successful that division this season.
The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers have been constructing out their rosters to beat the Chiefs within the AFC West. What occurs now the tables have been flipped? What’s going to subsequent season seem like now the Chiefs can have greater draft capital?
You hope that they are ready to herald or develop some star receivers. I do know they wished Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy to be that. However actually, since Tyreek Hill left in 2022, they’ve not had that primary, true menace receiver.
I like that of their final two video games they will be capable of get a few of their younger guys true NFL recreation expertise. That is going to be essential and can in all probability give them an higher hand long run.
They have been working in a number of the youthful tight ends, however if Travis Kelce retires, what does that seem like? Who turns into that dependable participant that Mahomes feels comfy throwing to as a result of, particularly getting back from harm, he’ll want any person he can belief.
This can be a actually large restoration for him. I’d be amazed if he is capable of get better to the purpose the place he can begin subsequent season and be cell. However he is all the time going to have a chance due to who he’s as a quarterback and a competitor.
The Chiefs have a whole lot of pending free brokers so how they handle that – who they’re bringing again, who they’re bringing in – can be a extremely large piece of the puzzle for them.
My concern for them getting again to the play-offs subsequent season is that the AFC West is actually aggressive. Are the Chiefs going to beat the Broncos twice a 12 months? Are they going to beat the Chargers twice a 12 months?
I really feel extra assured within the Bengals and Ravens, and both of them successful the AFC North. The Ravens are in all probability probably the most complete staff. They want a pair extra items on defence.
The Bengals want a complete defence, however at the very least they have an offence that may be high-powered. I really feel just like the Chiefs are going to have to start out from floor zero.
However for now, the three-headed monster is gone from the AFC, so possibly the trail is evident for my Buffalo Payments to lastly get again to the Tremendous Bowl.
