Bengals become pick to win AFC North by Dan Orlovsky
The Cincinnati Bengals are slowly making believers out of folks.
Dec 28, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) leaves the field after a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Bengals had a very transformative offseason by all accounts. We can talk about them missing on adding a veteran linebacker all we want, but they still added some really talented players all over the defense.
That was the side of the ball that needed the work. It wasn’t hard to see that the defense giving up so many points was a serious issue. It didn’t help that last season, the defense could rarely even pressure the quarterback at all.
Now, with trading for Dexter Lawrence, signing Boye Made, and Bryan Cook, that side of the ball looks ready to be a bit more stable. So much so that a common critic has changed his opinion on the team entirely (even if he still can’t help but add a jab at the end). "This is a huge year for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals..
They're my pick to win the AFC North right now" @danorlovsky7 #PMSLive pic. twitter. com/8pWr0tPInp — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 8, 2026 Dan Orlovsky notes the Bengals as his pick to win the AFC North, and it is easy to see why.