“Hope is not a plan.”
I hear people use that phrase a lot when talking about the Bengals, and it always confuses me. After all, as fans, the only plans we make are where to watch the game and what’s on the menu. Hope is all we have.
In terms of the actual team, I would say “belief” is a better word.
Belief is one of the most important things they can have. This is not the Bengals team of a year ago. They are tougher, physically and mentally.
This team didn’t flinch when Joe Burrow went down. They didn’t quit when Jake Browning threw three interceptions. They aren’t going to hang it up because QB1 went on IR.
They will keep fighting, and if God-willing, Burrow returns, they could still be in a position to compete for a championship. This is largely because the Bengals did what they had never done under Zac Taylor and started the season 2-0.
That gives me hope, and as long as the team still believes, they’ve got a chance.
If Burrow is out for 3 months, that would leave 4 weeks left in the season. If they still have a positive record when number nine returns to the field, they’ll still be in it, and because they have a two-game buffer, they’ve got a real shot at this.
Burrow’s potential 3-month absence is a 12-week period in which they play 11 games.
Let’s break it down into thirds.
The Next 4 Weeks
Over the next four weeks, the Bengals are on the road against the Vikings, Broncos, and Packers, and have the Lions at home. This was always going to be a tough stretch.
Going into the season, I was thinking they’d go 2-2 in these four games, and I still believe they can do it.
They start with the Vikings (September 21st). They have not been the team I was expecting them to be, and now they will be without their starting quarterback. Adding to this game’s winnability is the fact that it comes just before the Vikings go full Clark W. Griswald by taking a two-week European vacation with games in Ireland and London. Minnesota may not have its head in the game on Sunday, creating the opportunity for a road win for Cincy.
The following week, the Bengals travel to Denver for a matchup on Monday Night Football (September 29th). The Broncos have an excellent defense that will be tough to beat at Mile High, but they did just lose to the Colts, so who knows?
The Lions (October 5th) at home is a must-win. They have some talent, but they have two new coordinators, and the shine is off those silver helmets. With this stretch of hard road games, the Bengals need to pull this one off at home.
After that, they go to Green Bay (October 12th), and that squad is rolling right now. The Packers will be a huge test for the Bengals’ defense, and they will be hard to beat on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.
I think it is really important that they go 2-2 in this stretch to maintain that belief. I also think it is very possible. Detroit and Green Bay will really test Al Golden’s young defense, and they need to be ready.
The Middle
The previous four weeks were bound to be tough with or without Burrow, but the four weeks after that could be smooth sailing. They have three home games leading them into the bye week. All three of those games are very winnable.
The Steelers are the stiffest competition they will face, but again, it is at home (October 16th). Not only that, but it is a home Thursday night game with the Steelers traveling on a short week. They don’t have Ben Roethlisberger, who, anytime he gets within an hour of Oxford, thinks he’s back in his college days and unloads some MACtion on us. This is a winnable game.
After that, they host the Jets (October 26th) and the Bears (November 2nd), two teams that have won a combined zero games so far in 2025.
This is a stretch where they could easily go 3-0, but should at least go 2-1, plus have a bye week leading into…
The Home Stretch
The Bengals need to at least split with the Steelers. I don’t care if the win comes at home on Thursday night or on the road after the bye week (November 16th), but they need to get a win.
The Patriots (November 23rd) have some talent, but they also have some holes. And let’s not forget this staff has done pretty well against Mike Vrabel in the past. This will be a pivotal game. I think it is likely that the Bengals come into this game with six or seven wins. With three tough games in 18 days right after it, they need to put this home game in the win column.
Next is a road game in Baltimore on a short week. Beating the Ravens on Thanksgiving (November 27th) is a tall order. It would be incredible, but it seems unlikely without Burrow.
The only advantage to having a short week is the long week that follows. The Bills (December 7th) are one of the league’s best teams, but the Bengals have had their number in the past. With the extra time to prepare, maybe, just maybe, they could pull off an upset on the road.
The Return
If the Bengals can come out of a three-month stretch without Joe Burrow with a winning record, think about how confident and dangerous that group will be.
And it is possible. If they win two games in each of those three stretches, they will be 8-5 (6-5 without Burrow as a starter) and in a great position to make a playoff run. Even at 7-6, they would have a decent shot.
The first game after Burrow’s proposed return would be the Ravens at home (December 14th). That is a tough draw for a comeback, but give me a healthy Joe Burrow, and I like those odds.
After that, it is a cakewalk. They travel to Miami (December 21st), then host Arizona (December 27th/28th) and Cleveland (December 3rd/4th). Those are three games they should win.
Winning those three games would put them at 11 wins, which was good enough for a 5th seed last season.
With their quarterback back, a young defense that is cooking, and the swagger of a team that won all of those games with a backup quarterback, I’ll take the Bengals in a road playoff game against the AFC South Champion.
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