Thing Standing Between Cincinnati Bengals and Super Bowl Return

The Cincinnati Bengals enter the 2026 season with Super Bowl momentum despite missing the playoffs for three straight years after a 6-11 finish in 2025. Optimism starts with defensive improvements after a unit that allowed 28.9 points per game last season, ranking 30th of 32 teams. In April, Cincinnati traded the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 draft to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, the first time the franchise dealt a top-10 selection in the draft era. The Bengals also signed Pro Bowl defensive tackle extension Lawrence to a one-year, $28 million deal, and added edge rusher Boye Mafe on a three-year, $60 million contract and safety Bryan Cook on a three-year, $40.25 million deal on March 12. They later acquired defensive tackle Jonathan Allen on a two-year deal. Quarterback Joe Burrow, speaking May 20 at age 29, said the roster is the most talented since he arrived and expects a Super Bowl run, but the central question is his health. Burrow appeared in 35 of 51 regular-season games from 2023-25 and has missed six or more games in three seasons. Training camp opens July 29 and the season starts at home against Tampa Bay on Sept. 13.