This isn’t the conclusion of the season fans in Cincinnati are hoping for.

Which would be preferable, reaching the Super Bowl and coming up short, or not making it at all? You will either be extremely thrilled or extremely saddened by Sports Illustrated’s prediction for Super Bowl LIX, depending on how you respond to that question.

Another Super Bowl loss?

The craziest prediction of them came from SI’s Conor Orr, who included the Detroit Lions defeating the Bengals in the big game in an essay including 100 daring predictions for the 2024 NFL season. This is what he said:

“I am somewhat changing my decision based on a Lions squad that is completely stacked and fueled by the best of vibes. My most recent set of predictions—one bold one for all 32 teams the day after Super Bowl LVIII—had the Bengals edging the Lions. I seen firsthand what a conference title game can do for a club during the Rex Ryan era as a beat writer for the New York Jets, and there’s a difference between an unintentional tightening that passes for confidence and genuine,

In 2024, the Bengals and Lions will both be hoping to build on their previous victories. The Bengals participated in the AFC Championship game the year before and the Super Bowl the year before, while the Lions advanced all the way to the NFC Championship game before losing to the San Francisco 49ers.

Given that no team has ever won a Super Bowl, this would be an incredibly intriguing Super Bowl battle. While the Bengals nearly won a huge game a few years ago, they ultimately lost, the Lions have never even advanced to the big game. In both of their Super Bowl appearances (1982 and 1989), the Bengals were defeated by the 49ers.

3 biggest strengths on Bengals roster heading into 2024 NFL season

The Cincinnati Bengals’ roster is like any other in the NFL in that it has its strengths and flaws. Every year, the team’s greater strengths than deficiencies are hoped for. These are the teams with the most potential for success.

In light of that, let’s take a look at Cincinnati’s three greatest assets ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

Quarterback

In the NFL, the quarterback is everything, and Joe Burrow of the Bengals is among the greatest. Burrow guided the Bengals to two AFC Championship games and a Super Bowl participation in his first four seasons. In 2022, he was selected for the Pro Bowl, and in 2021, he won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. That same year, he also had the highest completion percentage in the league. Cincinnati instantly became a contender when he was added.

Although Burrow just recovered from a wrist injury that ended his season, all indications suggest he will be ready to go for the 2024 campaign—that is, if he plays. Cincinnati’s quarterback position will continue to be a key asset.

Safety

The Bengals’ safety position was not always a strength during the previous campaign. But the front management was working hard to make improvements, and by adding Vonn Bell and Geno Stone in free agency, the team significantly strengthened the safety position. The team has high expectations for second-year safety Jordan Battle, who will compete with those two for the two starting places.

Battle was recently identified as the group’s 2024 season breakthrough prospect. He participated in all 17 of Cincinnati’s games as a rookie last season, recording 71 total tackles, five passes defensed, and one interception. It appears that Battle will be Cincinnati’s safety going forward, but he must be hired.

Wide receiver

Tee Higgins’ formal 2024 tender signed, it’s safe to say that Cincinnati has a significant strength at wide receiver. Higgins should be driven to have a fantastic season in order to increase his own value as much as possible, as free agency is probably in his future.

Then there is Ja’Marr Chase, who has shown to be one of the NFL’s top receivers thus far. Chase had three seasons with the Bengals in which he gained more over 1,000 yards, and there’s no reason to believe that he won’t continue that streak in 2024.

Although they lost veteran receiver Tyler Boyd to the Tennessee Titans in free agency, the Bengals have high expectations for rookie WR Jermaine Burton, who they selected in the third round of the 2023 draft. In his debut season, he ought to have a chance to make a significant contribution.

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