Super Bowl hangover. It’s a term we’ve heard thrown around for years toward the team that lost the previous Super Bowl. And it is true that, for the most part, those teams struggle the following season. In fact, only eight teams have lost a Super Bowl and then made it back the following season.
It wasn’t that long ago, however, that this happened. The 2018 New England Patriots won Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams after losing Super Bowl LII to Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles. You also, of course, have the Buffalo Bills losing four straight Super Bowls from 1990-1993.
The Cincinnati Bengals certainly have a hill to climb with not only overcoming the stigma, but also bucking a recent trend in regards to respect and results from Vegas odds.
The Bengals currently have a win over/under of 10, the lowest for the previous season’s runner-up since the 2017 Atlanta Falcons had an over/under of 9.5. They’re also the last runner-up to hit the over as they won ten games and reached the playoffs, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.
So, yes, history is strongly against the Cincinnati Bengals. But this is a team that feels ready to buck that trend. Why? Because this team is still growing.
Is the disrespect because they’re the Bengals? Yes, this team was very bad in recent memory. But they now have as much talent, especially on offense, as just about any other team in the league. A near-elite quarterback, a freakish athlete at wide receiver, a powerful running back and a much-improved offensive line.
Cincinnati had three players reach 1,000 yards, including two wide receivers (Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins) along with Joe Mixon having a career year. And Boyd also had 828 yards, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility for the Bengals to have three 1,000-yard receivers. And a quick reminder that Mixon is 26 years old, while Higgins is only 23 and Chase is just 22.
Even Boyd is 27, so the core of the Bengals offense is still very young and either in their prime or set to enter their prime. Having that type of group is key for any NFL team.
As is continuity on the sidelines. Head coach Zac Taylor is entering his fourth year with the Bengals. He has had the same three top coordinators (OC Brian Callahan, DC Lou Anarumo, STC Darrin Simmons) all four years, something that is almost unheard of in today’s NFL. Per Jay Morrison of The Athletic, the only other team in such a position is the Kansas City Chiefs (Year 10 for HC Andy Reid, Year 5 for OC Eric Bieniemy, Year 4 for DC Steve Spagnuolo, Year 20 for STC Dave Toub).
So you have continuity and strength on offense, you have continuity and strength on the sidelines and you have a defense that can attack you in a number of different ways with how flexible Anuramo is. Look no further than Cincinnati’s first-round pick in April, Michigan safety Dax Hill. The guy can play corner, he can play nickel, he can play safety. He is going to be a major chess piece for the Bengals defense.
And maybe the best part for the Bengals? They relish the underdog role. It was their fuel throughout their playoff run. They were the Cinderella story of 2021 and can be the Cinderella story of 2022, as everyone is all-in on the Buffalo Bills, Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, even the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders to an extent.
Heck, even in their own division, a lot of talk surrounds the Baltimore Ravens coming off all their injuries. But the Bengals have the confidence after sweeping the Ravens in 2021, including Burrow’s historic 525-yard performance.
Add it all up and the Bengals could be the surprise team again in 2022 and break the curse of the Super Bowl hangover. The spotlight certainly is on them, but not as bright as other teams. And Cincinnati likes it that way.
