Overview
- On Thursday, Joe Burrow told teammate Ja’Marr Chase on Chase’s podcast that he could “feel it in my bones” after OTAs and that the roster gives Cincinnati a chance to win every game.
- Cincinnati remade its defense in the offseason by signing veterans Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook, trading the No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, and drafting Cashius Howell and Tacario Davis.
- Ja’Marr Chase echoed Burrow’s view and compared the group to the 2021 Bengals, and coaches reported sharper energy and improved defensive play in OTAs and training camp.
- Analysts and coverage stress the projection is conditional: Burrow must stay healthy and the new defensive pieces must perform in regular-season games for the team to be a true Super Bowl contender.
- The front office’s win-now moves increase pressure on Burrow and the organization because he is entering his seventh season with just two playoff appearances, and failure would intensify scrutiny of personnel and coaching choices.