The Cincinnati Bengals have the feel of a sleeper team in 2019 despite the arrival of a new head coach and overall coaching staff.
While first seasons for new head coaches aren’t always great, Zac Taylor isn’t inheriting a complete rebuild, either. The Bengals haven’t won more than seven games in any of the past three seasons so they figure to at least hover in that range.
But is there potential for more — and is it enough to classify the Bengals as a sleeper? NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks recently worked through a list of sleepers and left the Bengals off.
There were, however, teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers listed. Non-playoff teams from a year ago were the candidates selected.
Interestingly, there are new head coaches in that group, too. But the biggest factor seems to be simple: quarterbacks.
Naturally, Andy Dalton isn’t on the same level as an Aaron Rodgers or perhaps even Matt Ryan in the public mindshare. But Taylor and the Bengals front office have been adamant that contention is possible for the Bengals next season around Dalton, so it’s easy to see where the divide comes into play.
Do you think the Bengals should be on playoff sleepers lists in 2019?
