The Cincinnati Bengals are on a mission. After missing out on the Super Bowl for four years in a row, they spent a lot of money to bring in experienced players. Following this, Burrow said it's the best team he has been with. But even that may not be enough for one NFL analyst.

TV analyst Nick Wright thinks the Bengals do not deserve the hype they are getting. Speaking on the First Things First podcast, Wright expressed surprise at how much the media still talks about Cincinnati. 

"The Bengals have gone 0 for 3 the last three years," Wright said. "I do like their defensive line additions. I do think that should help them. But they wouldn’t be one of the first 10 teams I listed to win this year’s Super Bowl, and they have not been anywhere close in the last three seasons that have been played."

Wright argued that it is surprising to him how much effect winning against the Chiefs has had on the Bengals. 

The 2021 Bengals earned major credibility after taking down the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game and making a surprise Super Bowl run. But in many ways, that success has continued to shape public perception of Cincinnati long after the results stopped.

Irrespective of what Wright says, the team is stepping completely out of its comfort zone, starting with quarterback Joe Burrow, who has adopted a tougher, "meaner" leadership style.

Simultaneously, management has aggressively upgraded a struggling defense. They have surrounded Burrow with proven, serious veterans, including Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, Jonathan Allen, and Cashius Howell.

While Burrow clearly has immense faith in this revamped, talent-heavy roster, the pressure now shifts from paper to the field once the season begins.

Joe Burrow’s recent comments on the Bengals' defensive line

Joe Burrow feels a strong sense of urgency within the Bengals organization this year.

In fact, according to reports from Sports Illustrated, the star quarterback during a media interview compared the team's current energy to his legendary 2019 season at LSU. Back then, the team had won a college National Championship. 

"I certainly feel this way about this team. I think we have guys that have been there and done that and also guys who have had a lot of individual success and not necessarily the team success that we're looking for,” Burrow added. 

Burrow is more ready than ever to thrive under pressure with this new roster, which features a strong mix of proven winners and hungry veterans. 

“Guys like Dexter (Lawrence) and guys like Jonathan (Allen), bringing guys like that in is so advantageous to a lot of different people. Players trying to improve makes it easier on coaches. We have guys with so much talent and I'm just excited to put it all together." 

This isn't the first time he has been praising the team. Burrow has a lot of faith in his 2026 roster. He believes that with him healthy, they can easily lead the team to the Super Bowl this year.

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote