Bengals potentially playing more throughout preseason in hopes to avoid sluggish start

Let’s hope they do something to change the way they’ve consistently started seasons.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been atrocious to start the last few seasons, and it is often their doom later in the year.

The Bengals went 9-8 last season, finishing 3rd in the AFC North. They lost three straight to open the season and four of their first five, one of which was to the New England Patriots in their season- and home-opener. A late-season push got close but didn’t ultimately end in a playoff berth.

The year prior was much of the season as the Bengals lost three of their first four in 2023, one of which was a blowout road loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 4. Things must change if this team has a hope of getting back to the playoffs, and the Bengals’ leader, Zac Taylor, knows that.

Per ESPN’s Ben Baby, fans may see a different preseason approach, and the Bengals players may see more snaps in the preseason. It’ll be interesting as the Bengals have largely kept players out in preseason games to avoid injury, especially quarterback Joe Burrow, who has a history of season-ending injuries.

The Bengals must change something up because it is unacceptable to lose against one of the worst teams in the NFL to open your season.

Cincinnati’s AFC North will play the NFC North along with at least its three divisional opponents twice, so there is a good chance one of those seven teams is who the Bengals get to open the season.

With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the roster along with Burrow, this team has the weapons to beat anyone, and let’s just hope this time around, they can hit their start to the season, not when it is too late.