Saturday, January 2, 2021

Cincinnati Bengals Week 17 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Cincinnati Bengals rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 27.8 (29th)
  • Best ranking: 25th (USA Today)
  • Worst ranking: 29th (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 17 roundup for the Bengals in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 28

Carl Lawson, edge: You could make the case for cornerback William Jackson, or maybe you're still intrigued by the name value of A.J. Green, but Lawson has played better than they have and he'll be just 26 at the start of next season. Lawson's sack totals (he has 5.5 this year) undersell his overall production. His 31 QB hits are second to only T.J. Watt. Lawson has hit the quarterback on 8.1 percent of his chances, which ranks fourth league-wide. Given his age, Lawson's best football might still be ahead of him.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 29

They did some good things against the Texans. They have young players improving, which is huge for next season when Joe Burrow is back.

USA Today -- Rank: 25

It's probably no more than a statistical oddity, but interesting to note that QB Brandon Allen has been more accurate and efficient this season than injured No. 1 pick Joe Burrow.

ESPN -- Rank: 28

New Year's resolution: Find a stable offensive line

Getting quarterback Joe Burrow a solid and consistent offensive line is the team's top priority this offseason. The Bengals learned how costly shaky O-line play can be when Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury that ended a promising rookie year. Cincinnati has used 10 different starting combinations on the line this season. Some of that was dictated by injury, but some of it also stems from the inability to find the right combination. Cincinnati should be in the market for potential upgrades at guard and tackle if it wants to protect its franchise quarterback in 2021. -- Ben Baby

NFL.com -- Rank: 29

Ladies and gentlemen, the Bengals have done it. For the first time in more than two years, Cincinnati's NFL franchise has won a road game in the regular season. Before Sunday's 37-31 conquest over the Texans in Houston, the Bengals hadn't triumphed on the road since Week 4 of the 2018 season. It marked the sixth-longest road winless streak in the Super Bowl era and the longest since the Browns went winless in 25 straight road games from 2015 to '18. It also marks the first road win in the coaching tenure of Zac Taylor, who -- we should add -- is also riding his first two-game winning streak. It's nice to see some sunshine slip through the clouds in the post-Joe Burrow era of this 2020 season.

+ Previous update: Cincinnati Bengals Week 16 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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