The Cincinnati Bengals clinched their first AFC North division title since 2015 on Sunday, outlasting the reigning conference champion Kansas City Chiefs at home, 34-31, in a primetime-worthy bout. And a first-round bye remains in play for the team, though they'll most likely host a wild-card game.
Through 16 games, the Bengals rank fifth in the NFL in average points (27.8), ninth in average yards (372.7), seventh in average passing yards (268.8), and ninth in point differential (plus-89). So, with a top-10 offense and quality wins on their resume, is it time to recognize the Bengals as true title contenders?
"This sounds crazy, because the Bengals are still the Bengals. But you know the one thing that can turn things around? A franchise quarterback. And they have one in Joe Burrow," JR said during the JR SportBrief show on Tuesday. "Someone who can go out there, game to game, and help you win the game. And we saw inklings of it last year. We've seen more of it this year. And he's only in year two...
"Does the AFC North all of the sudden belong to the Bengals? Are they going to go on a stretch and win it for the next five, six seasons? No, of course not. But they're going to be competitive. The Bengals are no longer a joke... And if you're a Bengals fan, I'd be thrilled with what the future looks like... They have found a seat at the table. Are they going right to the Super Bowl? No, I'm not trying to get ahead of myself. But the Bengals have arrived..."
For the second straight week, Burrow delivered an MVP-caliber performance. Facing a rather difficult task, the second-year quarterback completed 30 of 39 passes for 446 yards with four touchdowns, and he now holds the single-season franchise record for passing touchdowns (34).
Burrow didn't receive all of the acclaim against the Chiefs, however. His rookie teammate, wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, racked up a whopping 266 yards with three scores, and broke the league's single-game receiving yards record for a rookie. In addition, the LSU product set an NFL record for receiving yards in a season by a rookie (1,429).
Cincinnati (10-6), which currently owns the AFC's third seed, will visit the rival Cleveland Browns (7-9) in a first-ever Week 18 matchup on Sunday. According to FiveThirtyEight projections, the Bengals have a 4-percent chance to reach Super Bowl 56 in Los Angeles.
JR's complete thoughts on the Bengals' playoffs hopes can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the JR SportBrief show on Twitter @JRSportBrief and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.