There is no one more confident in the Cincinnati Bengals this year than Joe Burrow. The Bengals have never won a Super Bowl in franchise history, but Burrow seems pretty convinced they could end up winning their first one this year.
The Bengals are coming off a 2025 season where they went 6-11, but they've been busy this offseason — and Burrow has definitely noticed. They made several key additions in free agency, including safety Bryan Cook and pass-rusher Boye Mafe. And they also did something they never do: made a blockbuster trade for Dexter Lawrence.
If one of the team's goals this offseason was to make Burrow happy, then they absolutely succeeded.
"I think this is the most talented roster that we've had since I've been here," Burrow said Wednesday.
This is a quarterback who has already played in a Super Bowl and two AFC title games, so he knows what it takes to get to the top of the mountain, and he thinks this team is ready to scale Mt. Everest.
During his Wednesday press conference, his first of the offseason, a confident Burrow made quite the prediction.
"We're gonna go win a lot of games this year, and play great, and win a Super Bowl," Burrow said.
If you're the Bengals, that's certainly the kind of confidence you want to see from your starting quarterback. It might seem crazy for Burrow to be calling his shot on a Super Bowl win more than three months before the start of the season, but everything seems to be lining up for the Bengals so far.
Game-by-Game Predictions
With Burrow boldly predicting a Super Bowl, let's make a prediction for every game on the Bengals' schedule to see if it's even realistic for them to make the playoffs.
Week 1: vs. Buccaneers
Burrow's Super Bowl prediction puts all the pressure on the Bengals to actually play well in Week 1, something they haven't done under Zac Taylor. Cincinnati hasn't won a home opener since 2021, which just happens to be the year it went to the Super Bowl.
This feels like a game where Burrow makes a statement by throwing for 300 yards or more in a win.
Prediction: Bengals 24, Buccaneers 17
Projected record: 1-0
Week 2: @ Texans
This is a tough draw for the second week of the season, and it gets even tougher when you realize the Bengals are 1-6 in Week 2 under Taylor. The Texans had one of the best defenses in the NFL last year, and it should be even better this season.
It's tough to face a dominant defense this early, and with this game being on the road, it will be a tough one for the Bengals to pull out.
Prediction: Texans 20, Bengals 17
Projected record: 1-1
Week 3: vs. Steelers
If there's one thing the Bengals have always struggled with under Taylor, it's winning divisional games. In his seven seasons, Taylor has only finished with a winning divisional record once.
They've gone 1-5 in three of his seven seasons, 3-3 in three other seasons and 4-2 in the only season where he finished with a winning record. Basically, if there's one thing you can always count on, it's that the Bengals lose two or three divisional games.
It wouldn't be surprising if they lose their divisional opener here.
Prediction: Steelers 23, Bengals 20
Projected record: 1-2
Week 4: vs. Jaguars
If the Bengals drop to 1-2, fans in Cincinnati might start to panic, but you won't see Burrow panicking. The QB, who got injured against the Jaguars last season, gets his revenge by dicing up the Jacksonville defense for three touchdown passes.
Prediction: Bengals 31, Jaguars 24
Projected record: 2-2
Week 5: @ Dolphins
Burrow's best game of the season came in Miami last year — he threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-21 win — and it wouldn't be surprising to see him replicate that success against what should be a young and inexperienced Dolphins' team.
Prediction: Bengals 34, Dolphins 17
Projected record: 3-2