Photo by The Phinsider

The Cincinnati Bengals advanced to 2-and-2 on the season and after beating the 3-and-0 Miami Dolphins Sept. 29, by a score of 27-15.

The outlook seems to be on the rise for the Bengals after week four, but I still am not sold on this team to be a contender again in the AFC.

The Bengals offense was supposed to come into the season as an explosive juggernaut of young talent, with Joe Burrow leading the charge from under center, and having his favorite target, top five wide receiver Ja'marr Chase. Also in the lineup is Tee Higgins who is regarded as the best second receiver in the league and one of the league’s most solid running backs, who shows flashes of being elite, in Joe Mixon. 

The Bengals started off the season with a heart breaking overtime loss to division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, where the potential game winning touchdown was scored in the final seconds of regulation but missed the extra point, and then lost in overtime. Borrow did not play well throwing three interceptions that game and costing his team the win.

In week two against the Dallas Cowboys, the Bengals lost another heartbreaker by three points. So it is possible to say the Bengals could be 4-0 if a few plays had gone their way. 

However, Cincinnati’s glaring problems for the offensive line will continue to keep this team from being a legitimate contender in the AFC. Burrow was the most sacked quarterback in the NFL last season and the Bengals tried to fix that by drafting Cordell Volson and signing Ted Karras, La’el Collins, and Alex Cappa. Even with those additions Burrow was sacked 13 times in the first two weeks of the season and again leads the NFL in times sacked through four games. The Bengals have turned things around bringing their record back to .500 and cutting down on the turnovers by Borrow, but until the offensive line can prove they can consistently keep Burrow on his feet the team will not be a contender come the playoff time this year.