NFL Power Rankings: The Cincinnati Bengals Are A Top-Ten Team

by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 8, 2011 12:31 PM EST

CINCINNATI - OCTOBER 31: A Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader performs during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Paul Brown Stadium on October 31 2010 in Cincinnati Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Admit it. Put your legs up, lock your fingers together and rest the best of your head on the palm of your hands. In late July when Mike Brown was asked about Carson Palmer, he reiterated that a trade wasn't happening. When that press conference was over, many of us were caught mouthing the words: Worst. Offseason. Ever. Coming off a 4-12 season, with an NFL lockout, a rookie quarterback, wide receiver and Palmer refusing to play was a fraction of the issues facing this team.

Not four months later and the Cincinnati Bengals are tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the best record in the AFC, securing a number one seed by virtue of a tie-breaker if the season ended today. And while fans are quick to point out a national blackout on Bengals coverage, the team that you so adamantly love is being recognized. In fact, it's probably safe to say that through nine weeks this season, the Bengals are a top-ten team and not many people would argue that (except for clowns... because clowns are funny).

Power Rankings	Placement	LW
SB Nation	7th	9th
ESPN's Power Rankings	10th	14th
Pete Prisco (CBSSports.com)	10th	12th
NFL.com	8th	10th
Pro Football Talk	7th	8th
Brian Billick (FoxSports)	13th	16th
Your Heart	1st	1st

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The AFC North is pretty much dominating all those polls.

by sexsalad on Nov 8, 2011 12:41 PM EST reply actions

Hey Josh...

where do I get one of those kitty cats in the picture?

by BengalsTom on Nov 8, 2011 12:43 PM EST reply actions

5th and Vine

by Diesel2405 on Nov 8, 2011 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

On a serious note...

I really don’t know how to act – this season thus far has been so surreal. I complained all summer about the lack of leadership this team had (won’t mention any names) and now the whole team is showing me that the Bengals are full of leaders. Now we’ve got to beat Pittsburgh this week and Baltimore next week and move up even further. WHO DEY!

by BengalsTom on Nov 8, 2011 12:47 PM EST reply actions

On a serious note...

by BengalsTom on Nov 8, 2011 12:47 PM EST reply actions

Brian Billick's line is interesting

Earlier in the season I seem to remember him giving the Bengals slightly more credit than the rest of the collective national media. Now it seems the media has glommed onto us and is rating us higher than Billick.

Not sure what, if anything, this means, other than Billick isn’t quite as drunk on the Red and Green kool-aid currently making the rounds…

by WhoDeyEveryDay on Nov 8, 2011 12:50 PM EST reply actions

i remember too

by rudebengal18 on Nov 8, 2011 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

All I can say is the though I don't put a lot of stock in power rankings......

for those of you that do the Bengals have gone from a general consensus of 32nd to 7th in half a season. I think that is sometning you just don’t see every year.

I hope you remember the ole Lou Brown "shi* burger I ordered up for the pundits. it is hot off the grill. I wonder if they want fries with that.

"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"

by JUNGLEJOHN on Nov 8, 2011 1:02 PM EST reply actions

+1

I represent the Bengals of Cincinnati with extreme passion and prejudice and make no apologies for it!

by Law1951 on Nov 9, 2011 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

Nice To See We Moved Up In The BCS Standings...lol

by laibach on Nov 8, 2011 1:10 PM EST reply actions

Currently the longest running streak for the last source on the list.

by Josh Hinson on Nov 8, 2011 1:21 PM EST reply actions

If they beat the Ravens AND Steelers

the next couple weeks and I openly weep afterwards—does that make me a sissy?

by Bengals NFL Champs on Nov 8, 2011 1:26 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Nope, but it makes your epithet more likely to be accurate in the shockingly short term.

by Todd G on Nov 8, 2011 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

I will both cry and urinate

ANd Ill love it.

by TheVilified on Nov 8, 2011 4:04 PM EST up reply actions

i can recall even when we swept the division

we really didnt get any love until we went 6-0 it was like unreeal to espn that the bungals as they used to an still from time to time say actually put together a good team … i really dont watch as much mothership as i used to bc of the total disrespect … lets jus keep winning and as dp says stay against the grain

by rudebengal18 on Nov 8, 2011 1:35 PM EST reply actions

Walker still has them only ranked 13. That guy was really a tool and a half.

Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson

by Grizzlyfox on Nov 8, 2011 3:47 PM EST reply actions

I've said it all along!!

Read my previous FAN POSTS and you’ll see that I’ve known it from the beginning of the season. WE WILL WIN THE DIVISION THIS YEAR!! And, Don’t be surprised if we go to our 3rd SUPERBOWL, once again for the 3rd time against the San Francisco 49’rs.

The stars are aligned and the Universe has a great sense of humor,

BENGALS 23 49’rs 17

Bengals finally win their 1st SUPERBOWL!

by gratefulmax on Nov 8, 2011 9:19 PM EST reply actions

Drinking that kool-aid GM!!!

I’ve never waviered from that notion, and until SOMEBODY proves me wrong, I still think we win the DIV or are a “wild-card” selction at 11-5!
.
Watch how EVERYBODY’S perspective changes when we beat the Steelers this Sunday!!!

I can hear the commentators now…they’ll be saying stuff like, “Can the Berngals keep this up”? What a surprise!!! This schedule is brutal! Yeah, but they still have to play the Ravens and Joe Flacco and company….blah, blah, blah,,,
F’ em!!!

Said it before… “There’s no room on the scoreboard fo comments”!
WHO DEY!

I represent the Bengals of Cincinnati with extreme passion and prejudice and make no apologies for it!

by Law1951 on Nov 9, 2011 2:04 PM EST up reply actions