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Way-Too-Early Top Five Teams in AFC

By Jaydeen Allen

Jan 31, 2016; Honolulu, HI, USA; General view of the line of scrimmage as Houston Texans long snapper Jon Weeks prepares to snap the ball during the 2016 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2016; Honolulu, HI, USA; General view of the line of scrimmage as Houston Texans long snapper Jon Weeks prepares to snap the ball during the 2016 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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#4 – Cincinnati Bengals

Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Dalton among the Best According to Analytics 

To many, the Bengals are not an elite team. They start their seasons off strong, and then fall off near the end, and completely meltdown in the first round of the playoffs, which has been the case for the last five seasons:

2011: Lost in WC to Texans (31-10)

2012: Lost in WC to Texans (19-13)

2013: Lost in WC to Chargers (27-10)

2014: Lost in WC to Colts (26-10)

2015: Lost in WC to Steelers (18-16)

It is shocking that HC Marvin Lewis still has a coaching job in the league with a record of 0-7 in the postseason. But the Cincinnati Bengals have somehow finished with a better regular season than the season before for the last five years:

2011: 9-7 (6th seed)

2012: 10-6 (6th seed)

2013: 11-5 (3rd seed)

2014: 10-5-1 (5th seed)

2015: 12-4 (3rd seed)

The Bengals defense is still stout with star players like DT Geno Atkins and LB Vontaze Burfict, so they will continue to be led by their defense. They lost WRs Marvin Jones and Mohammed Sanu this offseason, but recently added former Patriots’ WR Brandon LaFell and Hakeem Nicks who should compliment TE Tyler Eifert and some guy named AJ Green.

Next: #3 - Super Bowl Champions

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