Franchise quarterback Joe Burrow has even been claiming that the 2026 roster is the most talented group he has ever seen. It's a bold claim that Cincinnati must now back up on the field.

Not everyone is buying into the hype just yet. On a recent episode of ESPN’s Get Up, analyst Michael Wilbon expressed skepticism. He struggled to rank Cincinnati ahead of several other NFL powerhouse teams and compared Burrow's career trajectory to Hall of Famer Dan Marino.

"I don’t know that I’m listening to Joe Burrow proclaim how great they are as, Oh, I’m going to put them above Buffalo? In the AFC? No," Wilbon said. "Am I going to put them above Baltimore in their own division? No. Above New England? No. I don’t know that I’m going to have them above the Chargers."

He added, "So there’s a long way to go, and this proclamation sounds nice…You know who he reminds me of? Dan Marino."

Dan Marino is a legendary quarterback who famously never won a championship ring. Wilbon's comparison isn't meant to tear Burrow down, but it highlights a stark historical reality. However, there is a worrying historical pattern for both the Bengals and great quarterbacks.

Cincinnati has a history of star-led teams making exactly one Super Bowl run and then never getting back. 

This pattern happened with franchise legends like Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason.

We also saw it with Burrow himself in 2021, when a highly explosive Bengals offense made it all the way to the big game, only to suffer a heartbreaking 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. 

Joe Burrow Enters The 2026 Season Hoping To Finally Make It

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is feeling very good about his team this offseason. He is getting ready for the 2026 season, and fans are hoping the Bengals can finally make it back to the playoffs. Especially after missing out for the last three years.

While Burrow leads the offense, defensive improvements are equally vital for a deep run. The 2026 roster appears significantly deeper across both units.

The quarterback appears confident in the talent currently surrounding him. He thinks this group of teammates is the best one he has ever played with in Cincinnati. He shared his excitement by saying:

"I think this is the most talented roster that we've had since I've been here."

If Burrow stays healthy and the defense plays well, the Bengals have a great chance to make the playoffs. Some people even think they could win their division, the AFC North.

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Rudra Dubey