Cincinnati Bengals 2012-2013 NFL Futures Lines & Predictions
The Cincinnati Bengals surprised a ton of people by getting to the playoffs last season. In fact, almost everyone expected the Bengals to be one of the worst teams in the NFL.
2012 Cincinnati Bengals Team Preview/Predictions
2011 Record: 9-7
2011 ATS Record: 8-6-2
2012 NFL Futures Odds from WagerWeb
Cincinnati Bengals Odds to win Super Bowl: +4,000
Cincinnati Bengals Odds to win AFC Championship: +1,800
Cincinnati Bengals Odds to win AFC North Division: +350
Cincinnati Bengals Season Win Total: 7.5
Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and star rookie wideout A.J. Green led this team to a 9-7 record and a playoff berth. Can Marvin Lewis and the Bengals make it back-to-back postseason appearances, or will the Bengals go back toward the bottom of the pack as they have in the past?
Clearly, the oddsmakers doubt that the Bengals can make it two straight trips to the playoffs. You can’t blame them for being a little skeptical since the Bengals didn’t beat another playoff team all season last year. Still, Cincinnati has plenty of young talent that could help the team progress moving forward. Cincinnati hasn’t won a playoff game since 1990, which is the longest dry spell in the NFL. Let’s take a look at the 2012-2013 Bengals.
Offense:
Andy Dalton did a terrific job managing the game for the Bengals last year. His statistics weren’t amazing, but he did a great job minimizing his mistakes. Dalton is a very smart young guy, and you have to think he’ll continue to develop in the next couple years. It helps him a ton to have a guy like A.J. Green on the outside. Green seems to have endless ability, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL for many years. Green caught 65 passes for 1,050 yards in his rookie season. Expect big numbers from him in the season ahead.
Cedric Benson isn’t with the team anymore. It will be Benjarvus Green-Ellis and Bernard Scott sharing carries in the backfield. Green-Ellis isn’t an explosive runner, but he takes great care of the ball. The additions of Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones should give Dalton a couple more options in the passing game. Cincinnati’s offense line was very good last year, and they didn’t make many changes in the offseason. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Defense:
Cincinnati’s defense was really the strength of the team last season. The Bengals were one of the best in the league in the first few weeks, but when Leon Hall went down with a season-ending injury it really hurt the team. Cincinnati did a lot to get deeper in the secondary over the offseason. Dre Kirkpatrick was the team’s top pick, and Shaun Prater should get a chance to play as well. Terrence Newman was a solid offseason signing at corner for the team. Rey Maualuga is a real leader at the linebacker spot.
The defensive line has been very good against the run the last few years, but sometimes they struggle to pressure the quarterback. Jamaal Anderson was a big offseason signing for this group. The coaching staff has high hopes for Carlos Dunlap in the 2012-2013 season.
Cincinnati Bengals 2012-2013 NFL Predictions: 7-9
The Bengals didn’t beat a playoff team all year last season, and they’ll play plenty of them this year. The schedule includes the Cowboys, Giants, and Broncos this season. The AFC North is a brutally tough division, and I think the Bengals are due for a small step back. Unless the offense is more dynamic this year, the Bengals probably won’t make the postseason for a second straight season.
