Thursday, November 25, 2021

Cincinnati Bengals Week 12 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: 13.8 (14th)
  • Best ranking: 13 (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 15 (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 12 roundup for the Bengals in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 13

Most memorable Thanksgiving game: Lost to the Jets 26-10 on Nov. 25, 2010

It's easy for a game to be memorable when it's the only one of its kind. Cincinnati has played in just one Thanksgiving Day game -- a blowout loss to Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets in 2010. Cincinnati's lowlights included a kickoff return allowed for a touchdown and QB Carson Palmer sacked in the end zone for a safety. The Bengals gained a measly 163 total yards, which was fitting for a rough season that ended with a 4-12 record. But things turned around the next year. The Bengals drafted QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green and made the playoffs for the next five seasons. -- Ben Baby

NFL.com -- Rank: 15

The Bengals emerged from their bye and collected the most important win of their season. The 32-13 victory over Las Vegas wasn't exactly a work of art, but Cincinnati stifled the fading Raiders on defense and did enough on offense to snap a two-game losing streak. Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase got back on the same page with a touchdown connection, but the star of the game might have been rookie kicker Evan McPherson, who drilled three field goals from beyond 50 yards in a Tuckerian performance by the fifth-round pick. We'll need to see more from the Bengals to feel confident they're ready for a playoff push in the wide-open AFC, but this was a start.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 13

They came out of their bye with an impressive road victory against the Raiders. That's the Bengals we saw in October, a team that can certainly be a playoff team.

USA Today -- Rank: 15

Only two road games left for a squad that's rebounded into AFC's top wild-card slot. And comforting to know what a deadeye rookie K Evan McPherson is after he drilled three field goals from 50+ yards, a team record, in Sunday's walkover at Las Vegas.

The Athletic -- Rank: 13

Best side dish: Rookie receiver Ja'Marr Chase is the exciting accessory here, but Joe Mixon might be most important for the Bengals if they want to stay in this wild-card race. Leaning on Mixon is a winning formula, as the Bengals learned Sunday, when Mixon had a season-high 30 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns. (He had 29 carries in Week 1, but no more than 20 in any other game.) We love that the Bengals can sprinkle in the flashy deep passes to Chase, but Mixon needs to be the substantive part of this offense.

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