For the most part, the media believes the Cincinnati Bengals did look a little better with Joe Flacco now at quarterback instead of Jake Browning. Unfortunately, the Bengals are still looking for their first win since their 2-0 start, as a 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers dropped Cincinnati to 2-4 on the year.
The Bengals are still hovering around the mid-20s across the sets of power rankings, but let’s see where each place has the Bengals as they enter a short week heading into Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
USA Today: No. 25 (Last Week: 25)
Their 2-4 start … mirrors the one they also had in 2024, when they barely missed the playoffs. But if they’re lucky, QB Joe Burrow – and perhaps the defense and a run game – will be back … at some point this season.
ESPN: No. 27 (Last Week: 25)
From Ben Baby: (on how the future of the defense is murky)
Coming into the season, Cincinnati hoped new defensive coordinator Al Golden could transform a unit that really struggled last season. While there have been positive moments, some of the key players aren’t playing as well as needed. The Bengals have already made a major switch at middle linebacker, with rookie Barrett Carter taking over for veteran Logan Wilson, a team captain. But other players, such as cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, have not performed well enough either. A team that spent heavily on offense needs its young defenders to provide adequate play, which could be an issue beyond this season.
The Athletic: No. 27 (Last Week: 25)
From Josh Kendall and Chad Graff:
Adding Joe Flacco may not save the Bengals’ season, but it could change the fortunes of folks who have Chase or Tee Higgins on their fantasy teams. In Flacco’s first game in Cincinnati, Chase had 10 catches for 92 yards, and Higgins had a season-high 62 yards. Despite the Bengals’ struggles, Chase is still 21st in the league in fantasy scoring (18.57 ppg).
RELATED: Is Bengals QB Joe Burrow actually coming back this season?
NFL.com: No. 27 (Last Week: 27)
The first four series at Green Bay were predictably ugly, but as sure as death and taxes, Joe Flacco eventually started throwing dimes. Though he couldn’t quite engineer a heroic comeback on the road at Lambeau, Flacco had the Packers reeling for a minute — about five days after he arrived via trade. Who knows if he can keep it up, but that’s pretty incredible. At 2-4, the Bengals are waist-deep in water, but they’ll at least have three straight home games before the bye to give themselves a puncher’s chance. If they can somehow get back to relevance, it will be because Flacco is able to get the ball in the hands of their best playmakers. On Sunday, he gave us a taste of what’s possible.
FOX Sports: No. 27 (Last Week: 24)
With almost no time to prepare, veteran Joe Flacco showed he was already a better quarterback than backup Jake Browning. The Bengals still couldn’t win, though. They better find a way out of this four-game slide — and soon.
NBC Sports: No. 27 (Last Week: 26)
Covering the double-digit spread is the best they can do.
CBS Sports: No. 27 (Last Week: 25)
Joe Flacco looked better than Jake Browning in losing to the Packers. But how much better? They have a short week with a game against the division-leading Steelers this week.
RELATED: Bengals’ QB trade search included some shocking names
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals power rankings roundup: Where Cincinnati ranks entering Week 7
