Cincinnati Bengals
AFC North
Overall Team DVOA
-0.1% 17th
Pain.
That's what the Bengals and their fans feel after coming agonizingly close to winning a most unlikely Super Bowl championship. Now the focus is back on the regular season--that is, how to improve a team that was middling in many aspects before riding an amazing hot streak to the cusp of the Lombardi Trophy. Obviously, getting better on an offensive line that turned Joe Brrrr into Jumpy Joe Burrow is priority 1-A, and probably 1-B and 1-C as well. The pass rush bagged a good number sacks but was bottom half in Adjusted Sack Rate, and the pass defense was just 24th in DVOA, despite becoming an interception machine in the postseason. Often, the Super Bowl loser is a strong team that goes astray the next season for the usual reasons--injuries, player departures, coaching changes, etc. Cincy is a mediocre team that is actually on the upswing, and can avoid the Big Game Hangover if it remains honest about what challenges remain.
Meanwhile, allow this Bengals fan to say--"Aaaaarrrrggggghhhhhh!!!!"
--Robert Weintraub
DVOA Team Rankings
Through Week 22