Saturday, November 20, 2021

Cincinnati Bengals Week 11 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 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: 14.8 (13th)
  • Best ranking: 13 (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 17 (CBS Sports)

Below you will find a Week 11 roundup for the Bengals in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 13

Most important remaining game: Dec. 5 vs. Chargers

ESPN's FPI has Cincinnati as underdogs in six of its final eight games. That means Cincinnati will need to steal a couple of games to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015. The Week 13 tilt against the Chargers is essentially a pick 'em game: Los Angeles is favored 0.4 points, per FPI. Cincinnati would love to bank a win with these final four games: at Denver, vs. Baltimore, vs. Kansas City, at Cleveland. -- Ben Baby

NFL.com -- Rank: 16

The bye came at an ideal time for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Statistically speaking, the Bengals were one of the best defenses in football over the first seven weeks of the season -- but things fell apart in back-to-back losses to the Jets and Browns. Cincinnati surrendered 75 points in the two losses, struggling to stop both the run and the pass. Now in his third season on the job, Anarumo's future in Cincy might hinge on what happens the rest of the way. Said Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard: "We gotta look at ourselves and see what team we're really made of these last weeks."

CBS Sports -- Rank: 17

They come off their bye in a good place since two of the division teams lost and one tied last week. They face a tough road trip to play the Raiders.

USA Today -- Rank: 15

Coming out of their bye, which followed brutal losses to the Jets and Cleveland, they draw a crucial contest at Las Vegas with potentially huge tiebreaker ramifications.

The Athletic -- Rank: 13

Steal a player: Xavien Howard, Dolphins cornerback

The Bengals keep taking swings on cornerbacks. A few have hit, most notably Chidobe Awuzie, signed as a free agent from Dallas earlier this year. Others, like Trae Waynes and Eli Apple, have been misses. We'd love to see a shutdown corner like Howard in that other starting spot, someone capable of playing man coverage against No. 1 receivers and who could help the Bengals improve their turnover numbers. They have seven interceptions, five by linebacker Logan Wilson.

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