Here’s what every NFL team’s grade is at midseason
Cincinnati Bengals
Some people believed this would be the season when the Bengals finally started to crumble around Marvin Lewis’ ears. That hasn’t happened. Instead, Cincinnati finds themselves right in the thick of the playoff race at 5-3.
A.J. Green’s dominance at the wide receiver position is a big reason behind the team’s success. He’s already racked up 45 catches for 687 yards and six touchdowns on the season. If he can duplicate those numbers in the second half, the Bengals should be able to secure one of the AFC’s Wild Card spots.
The real question is whether or not the defense can give the offense some help during the second half of the year. They’re 29th in the league when it comes to points allowed through eight games. The secondary must improve if they’re going to mount a challenge to win the AFC North.
The Bengals almost certainly aren’t legitimate Super Bowl threats, but they do deserve credit for playing like a solid playoff team to date. Their lack of defensive chops are something to be concerned about, but this team would happily finish the season at 10-6. As a result, it’s fair to say they’ve enjoyed a perfectly adequate start to the campaign.