Previews are like the smell of gas right before launching your Manly Man Grill 6,000 with the scorching steaks comparable to training camp and dinner being served is week one in Chicago.
And according to Sports Illustrated, the Bengals got better in the passing game (drafting tight end Tyler Eifert and running back Giovani Bernard) but worse at linebacker -- older James Harrison learning a new system and having Rey Maualuga still starting in the middle.
The Bengals have made the postseason each of the past two seasons (and three of the last four), and there’s no reason to believe they’ll fall out of the picture any time soon. There is a solid base of young talent here, led by (WR A.J.) Green and DT Geno Atkins, and Cincinnati has surrounded them with enough pieces to believe that there could be a breakthrough coming for this squad. Is this the season the Bengals get over the top, both in the division and in the playoffs? If QB Andy Dalton is up to the task, it’s very possible.