NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Cincinnati Bengals have a similar approach to teams of the 90s, like the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, and the Buffalo Bills. While the Bills are the only ones not to win a Super Bowl, they did make 4 straight at one time. These Bengals are eerily similar to those teams.
Joe Burrow is the leader in the same breath as Troy Aikman, Joe Montana, and Jimmy Kelly. As far as wideouts, who can argue they have arguably the best three-headed force in the league with Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tyler Boyd? Sounds familiar? John Taylor and Jerry Rice. James Lofton and Andre Reed. Michael Irving and Alvin Harper.
While RB is the place where the ’90s teams have an advantage as the Cowboys relied on Emmitt Smith, the Bills had Thurman Thomas, and the 49ers displayed Roger Craig, the Bengals are still trying to make things work with Joe Mixon. But it’s their approach every season that causes similarities.
No matter who the competition is, the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, or newcomers like the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bengals always find themselves right in the thick of things causing problems. Just ask the Chiefs how tough of an out the Bengals are.
If the Cincinnati Bengals can manage to keep the offense intact this offseason and find an RB that will compliment Burrow and his receivers, another trip to the Super Bowl is in the cards. However, where the Bengals have fallen short of the team in the ’90s is on the defensive side of the ball. For all the praise the offense receives on those teams, no one can argue that their defense won championships.
Can The Cincinnati Bengals Win A Super Bowl
Where would those Bills be without Bruce Smith and Darryl Talley? How many titles would the Cowboys have with Charles Haley and Leon Lett? Rice and Montana were great but how can true 49ers fans forget how important Ronnie Lott and Haley were to those teams?
The Cincinnati Bengals have yet to find that blend. The Chiefs, despite being an offensive-minded team still had players putting in work on the defensive side of the ball. The same for the New England Patriots. Hell, Tom Brady gets all the praise for what happened in Boston but look at the Patriots’ defense over their dynasty run.
Paying Burrow and those receivers is a top priority but getting talent on the defense side of the ball will really have the Cincinnati Bengals in the conversation. They can’t and won’t win until they fix that problem. So for now, they are similar to those great ’90s teams but not quite there just yet.
