The Bengals have experienced both deep playoff runs and disappointing finishes under Zac Taylor, making them one of the league's tougher teams to predict entering 2026.

As Cincinnati gets ready for the 2026 season, Joe Smith of Touchdown Wire believes the gap between the team's best- and worst-case outcomes may come down to one familiar factor: Joe Burrow's health.

"He is set to be fully healthy to start the season, and if he can stay that way, the front office has arguably surrounded him with more talent than he's ever had in the NFL," Smith wrote on July 31.

Smith projects the Bengals winning at 12-5, pointing to an improved defense and a healthier roster that could help Cincinnati get back into postseason contention after missing the playoffs for three straight years. The analyst pointed out a Bengals trend surrounding Burrow.

"If Burrow's terrible injury luck continues and some of the offseason roster moves don't pan out as expected, we have seen this team drop off significantly," analyst Joe Smith wrote on Touchdown Wire on July 31.

In such a case, Smith projects a 7-10 finish and notes that another losing season could put Taylor's future with the team under increased scrutiny, who is under contract through the 2027 season after signing a five-year extension.

For Cincinnati, the path to a successful 2026 season may start with keeping its team quarterback on the field.

If the Bengals are going to reach that ceiling, the defense will have to play a big role, and early camp has already offered some encouraging signs.

What is fueling the Cincinnati Bengals defense early in camp?

The Bengals' defense looked sharp when the pads came on, and Dax Hill believes it will start with the pressure coming from the front.

The defensive line consistently got after the quarterback during Monday's practice, giving the secondary more chances to break up passes and force mistakes. Hill, DJ Turner, Jordan Battle, and several others took advantage of those opportunities.

“We love that,” Hill said after practice, as posted by Cincinnati Bengals Talk on August 4. “If you have that, I mean, it makes it a lot easier for us. And then, the quarterback only has a certain amount of time to get the ball out. So I mean, I feel like they've been doing a great job so far, applying pressure and making it easier for us.”

Hill also praised the offense for challenging the defense with different formations and motion, stating those looks have helped the unit stay sharp as training camp continues.

Can the Bengals live up to the high expectations in 2026? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Debanjali Rakshit

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar