We conclude our 2023 Kansas City Chiefs schedule preview with perhaps their biggest matchup of the year, the Cincinnati Bengals.
Although they fell short of making it back to the Super Bowl, 2022 was another stellar season for Cincinnati. Things started a little rocky out of the gate with a 4-4 start, but the Bengals would go on to win their final eight games. In Week 17 their game against Buffalo was canceled due to Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin’s suffering cardiac arrest on the field.
The Bengals have made it to the AFC Championship game against the Chiefs for the second year in a row, but this time Cincinnati came out on the losing end by a score of 23-20. The Bengals then kicked off their offseason by signing former Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to a four-year contract.
They also signed veterans Nick Scott and Irv Smith Jr., who will start at safety and tight end respectively. Cincinnati’s first three picks in the 2023 NFL Draft were used on defense, selecting defensive end Myles Murphy and defensive backs D.J. Turner II and Jordan Battle.
The offseason didn’t come without a few significant losses, as the Bengals lost both starting safeties, Jesse Bates III and Vonn Bell, as well as running back Samaje Perine. The Bengals still boast a championship-caliber roster, however, and should once again be in contention to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the Bengals’ top players and their outlooks for the 2023 season: