The Cincinnati Bengals made a long, long climb to reach the top five of power rankings this season.
Now they’re on top of the mountain.
At 12-4 and with a few timely losses by other teams, Joe Burrow and the Bengals sit at first overall in the pre-playoff power rankings from USA Today’s Nate Davis:
“1. Bengals (1): They enter the playoffs with an AFC-best eight-game win streak, and AFC North champs also ensured no coin flip would make them hit the road for the wild-card round. However there’s no scenario that will prevent them going to Buffalo and Kansas City in the postseason … aside from the ones where those teams lose, precluding those matchups.”
Winning eight games in a row to finish 12-4 while capturing a divisional crown and third seed in the postseason will do that for a team.
Despite earning the top spot, the Bengals and fans understand it matters little if they go out on Sunday in the opening round of the playoffs and can’t overcome the Ravens for the second week in a row.
Still, it’s probably nice especially for fans to see the team acknowledged as one of the league’s most complete and dangerous before the playoff bracket gets underway.
[listicle id=155033]