2019 Record - 2-14-0
Head Coach - Zac Taylor
New Players in 2020 - Vonn Bell (DB), Mike Thomas (WR), Trae Waynes (DB), D.J. Reader (DL), Josh Bynes (LB), Austin Calitro (LB), Tony Brown (DB), LeShaun Sims (DB), Mackensie Alexander (DB), Xavier Su'a-Filo (OL), Samaje Perine (RB)
Players opting out for 2020 season (COVID-19) - Josh Tupou (DL), Isaiah Prince (OL), John Ross III (WR)
OFFENSE - The top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is Joe Burrow (LSU) and he shattered the record books last year for college football and will be the starting quarterback. The backup quarterback will be Ryan Finley, who passed for 474 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions last season as the backup to veteran Andy Dalton, who went to the Dallas Cowboys this off-season.
Joe Mixon (1,137 rushing yards, 4.3 ypc average and five TD and also 35 receptions for 287 yards and three TD) is the primary back and his backup is Gio Bernard, who rushed for 170 yards and caught 30 passes.
Tyler Boyd led the Bengals in receiving last year with 90 receptions for 1,046 yards and five touchdowns. Wide receiver A.J. Green, who missed last season with an ankle injury, is looking to be back in the mix this year. Meanwhile, John Ross III opted out this season, so rookie Tee Higgins (Clemson) will have his chance to show his skills. Alex Erickson (43 receptions for 529 yards) and Auden Tate (40, 575, one TD) are also available this season. The tight end is C.J. Uzomah, who had 27 receptions for 242 yards and two touchdowns.
DEFENSE - Carlos Dunlap (nine QB sacks), Sam Hubbard (8 1/2 sacks), Geno Atkins (4 1/2 sacks), Carl Lawson (five sacks) and D.J. Reader (2 1/2 sacks with Houston) man the defensive line. The linebackers will be Germaine Pratt, Josh Bynes (two interceptions with Baltimore), Jordan Evans and rookies Logan Wilson (Wyoming) and Akeem Davis-Gaither (Appalachian State).
The corners include Darius Phillips (four INT), Trae Waynes, William Jackson III and Mackensie Alexander. The safeties are Vonn Bell, Jessie Bates III (three picks), Brandon Wilson and Shawn Williams.
The Bengals defense was 29th in the NFL last year, allowing 394 yards per game. They gave up 26.2 points per game and their run defense finished last in the NFL, giving up 149 yards per game and the pass defense ranked 21st, allowing 245 yards per game. The Bengals accumulated 31 QB sacks and intercepted eleven passes.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor went through a very tough first season with the team, but now things should be looking better with Joe Burrows taking over as the quarterback.
Burrows is perhaps the highest touted rookie quarterback in many years and if he can maintain his cool under pressure (Bengals QBs were sacked 48 times last season) it would be a big plus for the offense. Cincinnati ranked 26th overall in total offense last season, gaining an average of 323 yards per game and scored 17.4 points per game. The running attack averaged 95 yards a game while the passing ranked 19th overall with 228 yards per game.
Joe Mixon is a solid running back and Gio Bernard has been around for eight years and does a decent job when healthy. The wideouts of Boyd, Green and (rookie) Higgins could be a good trio for Burrows to work with as long as they stay injury free. Red zone efficiency was big problem last year for Cincy, where they ranked 30th by scoring touchdowns just 44 percent of the time in the zone.
The defense was abysmal last season and the team brought in eight free agents this year and drafted four players on defense as well. The front line is decent, although Dunlap and Atkins are both entering their eleventh seasons in the NFL. Stopping the run and forcing more turnovers is the key to improving the defense in the 2020 season. Cincinnati was minus-14 in the turnover category last year.
The Bengals lost their first eleven games in 2019, so getting off to a better start would be an improvement for sure. The schedule doesn't appear to be as tough in the first half of the season, so it's possible to avoid the dreadful start again. An improvement from just two wins to at least five or six would show progress this season and anything better than that would be a bonus.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week Two - at Cleveland
Week Three - at Philadelphia
Week Four - vs. Jacksonville
Week Five - at Baltimore
Week Six - at Indianapolis
Week Seven - vs. Cleveland
Week Eight - vs. Tennessee
Week Nine - BYE
Week Ten - at Pittsburgh
Week Eleven - at Washington
Week Twelve - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week Thirteen - at Miami
Week Fourteen - vs. Dallas
Week Fifteen - vs. Pittsburgh
Week Sixteen - at Houston
Week Seventeen - vs. Baltimore
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