Joe Burrow is playing some of the best football of his career, and the Cincinnati Bengals are 4-2 heading into November. After a lost 2025, that is a real turnaround. Here is the case for a return to the Super Bowl, and what stands in the way.
A Quarterback at His Best
Through six games, Burrow has thrown for 1,653 yards and 15 touchdowns against three interceptions, completing 71.7 percent of his passes with a 110.4 passer rating. Pro Football Focus has him with the second-best overall grade among 35 qualified quarterbacks. In a 35-13 win over the Ravens, he threw four touchdowns without an interception for the second straight game, and the team came back from a 13-0 halftime deficit.
Why It Feels Different This Year
The Bengals are healthy and have momentum, according to the Associated Press, and Burrow has Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at receiver. Last season was the opposite: Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in Week 2 and missed much of the year, the Bengals went 1-8 without him and finished 6-11. The team has also been to the AFC Championship Game in 2021 and 2022, so the core has been close before.
The Defense Problem
The weakness is on the other side of the ball. Cincinnati’s defense ranked last in most categories in 2025, and it was also one of the league’s worst in 2024, when Burrow led the league in passing yards and touchdowns but the team missed the playoffs. Burrow has also commented on the roster before the trade deadline, which suggests the team may look for help.
The AFC Picture
The conference is crowded: Kansas City and Buffalo are 5-1, and Denver, Cleveland and Pittsburgh are 5-2. Our look at the Chiefs’ road back to the Super Bowl shows how tough the path is. Cincinnati hosts the 1-6 Titans in Week 8, a chance to build on the Ravens win.
The Verdict
If Burrow stays healthy and the defense improves, Cincinnati can contend. But a Super Bowl run requires beating several strong AFC teams, and that is still a big ask. Standings change weekly, so check the latest results.
Sources: ESPN, Pro Football Focus, TSN (AP), Wikipedia.