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.