The first game since Joe Burrow’s injury could not have gone any worse for the Cincinnati Bengals. Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz looked servicable and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers looked like Deion Sanders…Rodgers scored a perfect 99.9 grade from Pro Football Focus!
A 48-10 loss left the Bengals‘ heads spinning in Week 3. The silver lining is that the Bengals are still tied atop the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 2-1, and watched as the Ravens fell to 1-2 after Monday’s loss to the Detroit Lions (the Bengals’ Week 5 opponent).
As for entering Week 4, let’s take a look at how the Bengals were affected in the power rankings after being ran off the field in Minnesota.
USA Today: No. 20 (Last Week: 18)
We knew they were likely to struggle without injured QB Joe Burrow. But falling into a 45-point hole type struggling? To a team also without its QB1? Ominous.
ESPN: No. 20 (Last Week: 12)
The Bengals, while improved from last season, have been in a tough spot on third down: On average, opposing teams have needed 5.8 yards to gain against Cincinnati, the fourth-shortest distance in the NFL, per ESPN Research. So it’s no surprise the Bengals are tied for 28th in the league in third-down conversions allowed (although three games represent a small sample size). Improvements on first and second down would do a lot for coordinator Al Golden’s defense, which was just smacked by the Vikings
The Athletic: No. 24 (Last Week: 12)
From Josh Kendall and Chad Graff:
Jake Browning threw as many touchdown passes to the Vikings as he did to his teammates in a game that totally got away from Cincy. Another clunker like that, and the Bengals might be better off looking elsewhere (Kirk Cousins?). But would their ownership spend big on a temporary QB?
NFL.com: No. 20 (Last Week: 16)
Jake Browning might have had some moments while leading the 2023 Bengals back to respectability, but he also has now thrown a league-high five interceptions on only 59 attempts. His first pick was run back for a score on Sunday, putting Cincy in a 14-0 hole only nine minutes in. It was 41-3, Vikings, when Browning threw his second one. It wasn’t a great game for the Bengals’ defense, but it was a truly putrid one for the offense, which turned it over five times, leading to 31 Minnesota points. The Bengals also had two more fumbles, but they recovered them. This was already the biggest blowout in franchise history, but it very easily could have been even worse. Cincinnati is still 2-1, but Sunday poked even more holes in its porous résumé. Can Browning find a way to get back in rhythm?
FOX Sports: No. 18 (Last Week: 13)
Jake Browning is probably better than this (19 of 27, 140 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs), but that sure was an alarming way to play in the Bengals’ first game after Joe Burrow’s injury. If it’s a sign of things to come, they’re in a lot of trouble.
NBC Sports: No. 19 (Last Week: 14)
At least they’ll still turn a profit this year.
CBS Sports: No. 19 (Last Week: 15)
So much for the idea that Jake Browning would hold down the fort. You are a backup in this league for a reason. They are done without Joe Burrow.
RELATED: Bengals great wants to see Joe Burrow pull Matthew Stafford for safety
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals power rankings roundup: Where Cincinnati ranks entering Week 4
