Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals. (Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports)
The 2021 Cincinnati Bengals came seemingly out of nowhere to make it to the Super Bowl.
It happens every now and then, but who in their right mind saw the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals coming within a play of winning Super Bowl 56?
While much of the Bengals’ success is a direct result of Joe Burrow being the next generational superstar quarterback, Cincinnati has quietly drafted well for years. Not only that, but they made savvy pickups in free agency. Though the organization certainly has its warts, the Bengals are the favorites to win the AFC North again and have a shot of getting back to Super Bowl 57 in 2022.
Of the handful of teams who were truly terrible a year ago, these five can see what the Bengals did last year, apply it to what they do and see what happens.
5 non-playoff teams who could be the 2022 version of the Cincinnati Bengals
5
Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC South
Trevor Lawrence getting Doug Pederson as his head coach is career-saving
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been utterly atrocious the last two seasons, which makes them a prime candidate to be this year’s Bengals. While having a new head coach and getting to the Super Bowl in the same season feels like too much to overcome, Doug Pederson led the Philadelphia Eagles to their only Super Bowl victory in 2017. Now, he gets to work alongside Trevor Lawrence.
Though Jacksonville plays in in the tougher AFC, the AFC South is not all that menacing. If Lawrence is every bit as good as his boyhood idol Peyton Manning, the 2022 Jaguars could be the 1999 Indianapolis Colts. That team won 13 games and never looked back. If Jacksonville nails the draft and makes a few smart moves in free agency, they can win the division and get to Glendale.
Pederson was the best head-coaching hire and linking him up with Lawrence is a game-changer.