Friday, October 20, 2023

Cincinnati Bengals Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Cincinnati Bengals in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 12

Lesson learned: Cincinnati lacks a consistent offense.

Quarterback Joe Burrow knows the offense is not where it wants to be through six games. The passing offense is the least explosive in the NFL, ranked 32nd in yards per attempt (4.8). As whole, the Bengals are 29th in points per drive (1.23) and lead the league in three-and-out percentage (29.9%). There is hope that Cincinnati can turn things around now that Burrow's right calf is feeling better. But the inconsistency the team showed in a Week 6 win over Seattle suggests that this massive problem isn't rooted solely in Burrow's health. Cincinnati must get that solved immediately. -- Ben Baby

NFL.com -- Rank: 13

The Bengals came out like gangbusters on their first two drives of Sunday's 17-13 win over the Seahawks, scoring touchdowns on both. Just like that, following a strong Week 5 showing, their offense had magically regenerated itself. Until it hadn't. Over the next eight drives, Cincinnati netted a feeble five first downs and 86 yards. The defense had to go into whatever-it-takes mode, especially as Seattle continually drove deep into Cincy territory. This D has enjoyed its share of red-zone heroics in recent years -- with critical plays from Germaine Pratt to Sam Hubbard to Vonn Bell and on -- and that group added some new contributors as it held Seattle to 10 points on five red-zone trips. Cincinnati might have limped to the bye at 3-3, but getting to this point at .500 is admirable.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 11

They head into their bye week at 3-3, which is a good sign after their bad start. Joe Burrow now gets an important week to get healthier.

USA Today -- Rank: 12

They leveled back to .500 entering a much-needed bye week. QB Joe Burrow, WR Tee Higgins and Co. better rest up, though, because they're not scheduled to face a team currently below .500 until Week 15, a stretch that starts with the Niners and Bills.

The Athletic -- Rank: 10

Through Week 4, Joe Burrow was 32nd in the league in completion percentage (57.6) and 29th in passing yards per game (182). In the last two weeks, he is second in completion percentage (74.1) and eighth in yards per game (251). Ja'Marr Chase reached 3,057 career receiving yards Sunday, becoming the fifth player in league history to top 3,000 yards in 35 or fewer games.

FOX -- Rank: 13

Let's not waste too many words on the Bengals offense this week. How about that defensive performance, turning Seattle away in the red zone, time after time? The Bengals lose that game pretty easily if not for a heroic red-zone performance from that side.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 12

On the surface, Sunday's home win over the Seahawks that got the Bengals back to .500 was a sign Cincinnati is all the way back. I'm not convinced. The Bengals put up just 214 yards and got very little going downfield, which has been a problem in five of their six games this season. They won because the pass rush, and defensive end Sam Hubbard in particular, made huge plays. It's good to be .500 after an awful start, but don't assume the Bengals are back to being a contender yet.

PFT -- Rank: 18

Maybe they're back.

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