After the loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI, many experts are sure: The Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow will get another chance. However, for a variety of reasons, this could prove to be more difficult than first thought.

Munich – The “Cinderella story” of the NFL season did not have a happy ending. Despite a lead late in the fourth quarter, the Cincinnati Bengals lost 20-23 to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI.

Many fans and experts are of the opinion that Joe Burrow and Co. will continue to compete for the title in the next few years. However, this could be more difficult than perhaps thought.

Yes, the Cincinnati Bengals played a good season and every team that goes to the Super Bowl deserves it. And yes, the Bengals have a chance to be successful in the coming years. But there are several reasons to think that won’t be a foregone conclusion.

Injuries in the division ease playoff entry

It only takes a look at their own division to realise that “Cincy” have benefited mostly from the injury woes of their rivals this season. While the “Bengal Tigers” were spared serious injuries for almost the entire season, the Ravens’ season was “over” early.

A few days before the start of the season, J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Marcus Peters tore cruciate ligaments. In addition, quarterback Lamar Jackson was injured in week 14 and subsequently did not play in a season game. Without the 25-year-old, the Ravens lost each of their remaining games (including one against Cincinnati) and missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record.

The Browns also failed to make the postseason with an (almost) permanently injured Baker Mayfield. So with ten wins and seven losses, it was the Cincinnati Bengals who represented the AFC North in the playoffs. Such an “easy” division win seems unlikely in years to come.

Did the Bengals benefit from opponent mistakes?

Although the Bengals were always good in the playoffs, they also benefited from mistakes, some of them big, by their opponents. Against the Tennessee Titans, Joe Burrow was sacked nine times. Actually, the Bengals should never have won such a game. However, an interception and a field goal with the clock running out ensured that the Bengals made it to the AFC Championship Game.

Cincy” went into the game against the Kansas City Chiefs as a clear underdog. And had Patrick Mahomes not forgotten how to play football in the second half and thrown a wild interception in overtime, the Chiefs rather than the Bengals would probably have flown to Los Angeles.

In the Super Bowl, too, things didn’t look good at all at the beginning. It wasn’t until Odell Beckham Jr. got injured and the resulting chance to fully focus on Cooper Kupp’s defence that Cincinnati got into the game. Not to mention the face-mask penalty against Tee Higgins that wasn’t given, which would have negated the 75-yard touchdown early in the second half.

Don’t misunderstand: The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t just get to the Super Bowl because of the ineptitude of their opponents. Especially in the playoffs, however, a few plays decide entire games. And those are exactly the ones that have often gone Bengals’ way this year.

The future could be bright

Despite that, the Ohio franchise holds all the cards. With Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the top performers of the offense are on their rookie contracts. Running back Joe Mixon also earns relatively little money for his services (twelve million a year).

However, Burrow, Chase and Higgins are likely to want to sign high-paying contracts soon. It is quite possible that the Bengals will then have to part with one of the aforementioned (this would probably be Higgins).

In the offseason, the Bengals will also have to start protecting Burrow. In the playoffs alone, the 25-year-old was sacked 19 times. Record! By comparison, Peyton Manning has been taken down behind the line of scrimmage 40 times in 27 playoff appearances.

So in free agency and the draft, the focus will be on signing O-linemen. Anything less would be a bad sign for Burrow. Or as Pat McAfee said on his own show, “He (Joe Burrow; ed.) is well on his way to becoming the next Andrew Luck. “

AFC full of outstanding quarterbacks

In addition, McAfee brought up two other good points that argue against a quick return to the Super Bowl for the Bengals and Burrow. First, “Cincy” plays in the AFC, which is especially loaded at the quarterback position. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Mac Jones – to name a few.

On the other hand, even some of the best quarterbacks in NFL history do not often make it to the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers has reached the final once so far, Drew Brees as well.

The future will show whether the Bengals manage to repeat their success and then maybe even gold. Until then, however, it should not be ruled out that the Cincinnati Bengals of 2021/2022 are a “one-season wonder”.