NFL Training camps are now slowly opening for all 32 NFL teams, which means...IT'S TIME FOR POWER RANKINGS.
Everyone likes to have an idea of where their favorite teams rank in the NFL's hierarchy, and the guys at CBS Sports are happy to oblige with their latest attempt to rank every club. The good news for Bengals fans is noted Bengal optimist Pete Prisco was the one doing this ranking, and he has Cincinnati coming in at No. 9:
Four consecutive playoff appearances means this is a good team, despite what the critics say. At some point, though, Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton have to win a postseason game.
Making the ranking even better was the placement one spot ahead of the Steelers at No. 10. Prisco's rankings aren't without flaw though. He has the Ravens all the way up at No. 5, the same Ravens who lost star players Torrey Smith and Haloti Ngata this offseason. If anything, Baltimore doesn't even belong in the top 10.
Still, it's nice to see the Bengals are still getting top-10 love as the 2015 season inches closer. This also shows just how tough the AFC North is once again expected to be.
As far as other recent power rankings go, Peter King, with Sports Illustrated listed the Bengals as the 12th-best team in the NFL back in June. Business Insider has Cincinnati ranked 13th, and the guys at Rant Sports do, too.