Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Cincinnati Bengals Week 16 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: 29.2 (30th)
  • Best ranking: 28th (USA Today)
  • Worst ranking: 30th (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 16 roundup for the Bengals in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 29

Wish: A complete and speedy recovery for Joe Burrow. Monday night's win over the Steelers notwithstanding, they've been one of the toughest teams to watch since Burrow went down. Burrow was so fun to watch as a rookie, and he energized the Bengals' fan base. Let's just hope he doesn't have any setbacks and looks like an even better version of what we've already seen whenever he does return.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 30

They looked good in beating the Steelers Monday night. That's a good sign for next season.

USA Today -- Rank: 28

Somehow appropriate that, with second-stringers all over the field, they crafted second-biggest upset of Week 15 against Pittsburgh.

ESPN -- Rank: 29

Most underrated star: S Jessie Bates III

Outside of Cincinnati, Bates doesn't get nearly enough credit for what he does. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Bates leads all safeties with 15 pass deflections and has the lowest expected points added of any safety when targeted (minus-10.9). The big knock against Bates this season is that he hasn't been able to convert on some big interception opportunities. Then again, the fact that Bates has been in position for a couple of potential pick-sixes shows how well he has played this season. If Bates played for a good team, he probably would get the recognition he deserves. -- Ben Baby

NFL.com -- Rank: 30

What a nice moment for the Bengals and their fans on Monday night. A once-promising season turned painful in the aftermath of Joe Burrow's terrible knee injury, but beating up the Steelers and sending thousands of Pittsburgh fans out of Paul Brown Stadium with scowls on their faces was a special kind of Christmas present for the people of Cincinnati. After all, the Bengals didn't just beat the mighty Steelers -- they sent the entire organization into a state of panic. That's the good stuff. "We needed this," quarterback Ryan Finley said after a solid two-touchdown performance. "We needed to have this feeling. We needed to share that in the locker room." We get it.

+ Previous update: Cincinnati Bengals Week 15 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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