- It's going to be a long year in Cincinnati
With Joe Burrow expected to miss three months with ‘turf toe' - a serious injury, despite its deceptively humorous title - expectations were relatively high that back-up quarterback Jake Browning could hold down the fort. Browning was to come in, keep the Bengals in wildcard contention and play complementary football until the franchise cornerstone returned.
That looks anything but plausible right now.
The Bengals have been abysmal the last fortnight, losing to the Vikings and Broncos - hardly worldbeaters - by an average margin of 31.5 points. Browning is yet to replicate the tidy production he put forth in Burrow's 2023 absence, but in truth, there are problems everywhere.
The Bengals' defence looked like it had improved in week one, with Al Golden's unit being the reason for the victory, rather than something Burrow's offence had to win in spite of, the way it had been previously. 76 points conceded in two weeks put paid to that theory.
The offence is not helping, however. The defence looks tired because it is. Against Denver, Browning's offence went two-of-11 on third down, keeping the defence on the field. That defence allowed six third-down conversions on eight attempts. Bo Nix's Broncos outgained the Bengals 512 yards to 159. It was a massacre.
With opposition defences learning they have no reason to respect Browning's aerial threat from the pocket, they can zero in on Chase Brown, a running back who finished last season in fine touch. In keeping with the theme of his side's season, Brown has failed to meet those standards in 2025. 133 yards on 57 carries - a measly 2.3 yards-per-carry - paints the picture.
The Bengals went all-in on key offensive personnel in the off-season, rewarding Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase with big money deals, and bringing back Mike Gesicki, in the hopes Burrow could guide them to another deep playoff run. In Burrow's absence, the lack of remaining cash has become apparent. Protection and defence issues that Burrow's play often papers over are glaring. Frustratingly for Bengals faithful, the AFC North division looks as winnable as it has in years. Cleveland looks as pedestrian as ever, an injury-ravaged Ravens unit is unable to generate any momentum, and the Steelers could still implode at any moment, despite a strong start to the season.
2. Puka Nacua is in the top echelon of wideouts across the league
The last 18 months have seen spirited debates as to who is the dominant wide receiver in the league, with pundits and fans alike often pitting college teammates Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson against each other.
Los Angeles Rams Puka Nacua has inserted himself into these debates with an exemplary start to his 2025 campaign. Matthew Stafford's favourite target has hauled in 42 receptions for 503 yards and a touchdown through four games. Sure, he'd like to score more, but his ability to move the chains for Sean McVay's offence is devastatingly obvious, and a joy to watch. Nacua is physical and fast, a combination that makes him a nightmare to tackle, and his hands are as safe as houses. He is flourishing, now seemingly free of the injury bug that has plagued much of his early career, and with an all-time gun slinger in Matthew Stafford quarterbacking an expansive McVay offence, Nacua is primed to explode in 2025.
3. The AFC South is actually relevant
Liam Coen's Jacksonville Jaguars are 3-1 to start this season, behind the play of an opportunistic and ball-hawking defence. This defence and its penchant for takeaways and physicality have set the tone for the first year man's side in the season's early sledding, and pieces like Devin Lloyd, Foye Oluokon, and Arik Armstead can be trusted to at least keep the team treading water until its offence can find some rhythm.
Heisman winner and prized draft pick Travis Hunter will be allowed to continue developing, while Trevor Lawrence explores a connection with Brian Thomas Jr., who showed exciting glimpses last season, and Travis Etienne looks to replicate his best, on the ground. This will be a fun wagon to watch.
Division rivals, the Indianapolis Colts, are also 3-1, behind the surprisingly clean play of the perennially maligned Daniel Jones. Jones is in the top three in the league for passing yards through four games, and if not for some unconscionable mistakes by second-year wideout Adonai Mitchell in the weekend's winnable matchup against the high-flying Rams, the Colts would be undefeated. Jones also showed some glimpses of his old self in the one-score loss, but has enough credits in the bank through the first three weeks to believe this was but a speedbump on the Colts' road back to relevance.
Running back Jonathan Taylor is leading the league in rushing yards. Now that defensive coordinators have to respect the quarterback he plays beside. This complementary football is a recipe for success. Whether or not second-year head coach Shane Steichen can keep the momentum rolling, under the very watchful eye of owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, remains to be seen.
A Texans outfit still hostage to a regressing CJ Stroud and an abysmal offensive line, and a Titans side experiencing significant teething issues with Cam Ward under centre, mark the AFC South crown as a two-horse race.
4. Williams and Johnson might just rewrite decades of mediocrity in Chi-Town
One of the biggest acquisitions of the off-season wasn't a player, but a coach. Ben Johnson, the offensive architect behind the Lions' resurgence in recent years, made his way to division rivals the Bears to take up the head coaching post. Early indications are that his partnership with former number one draft pick Caleb Williams, is one that will bear fruit.
Bears fans are hardwired to expect their quarterbacks to crumble in situations like the one that confronted Williams against the Raiders in their side's most recent outing. Instead, the player labelled 'soft', among other things, thrived, leading his side down the field, and throwing a touchdown, to give the Bears the lead, late. Yes, special teams still had to memorably block a field goal attempt, to secure the victory, but Williams did his part.
The Bears' defence ranks last against the run, something that'll need addressing as soon as possible, with the likes of Jahmyr Gibbs and Josh Jacobs to contend with in divisional matchups. Yet, Ben Johnson's high standards, evident in calling the tape from the weekend's match as 'messy', appear to suit Williams. If their rapport can withstand early growing pains, and the defence can make strides, chances are we'll be speaking about this franchise in a positive light, for the first time in a long time, soon enough.
5. The Bills and Eagles are on a Super Bowl collision course
It's an obvious thing about two undefeated teams - one of which is the reigning champions and the other is quarterbacked by the reigning league MVP - but that makes it no less salient.
Ominously, Nick Sirianni's Philadelphia Eagles are winning despite themselves. Jalen Hurts is 25th in the league for passing yards, with a QBR of just 67.6. Saquon Barkley is that far off last year's breakneck rushing yards pace that it's not funny. AJ Brown is posting cryptic social media messages regarding his discontentment. The Eagles posted -1 yards of offence in the second half against a Tampa side that's had their number in recent years.
And yet they're unbeaten. The NFC best beware - a way to defeat this side didn't avail itself to the conference in these recent weeks, and conventional wisdom says it will only be harder when this offence finds its inevitable rhythm.
Similarly ominous is the rounded play of the Buffalo Bills. For what feels like the first time in his career, Josh Allen's side is not requiring him to don the Superman cape for them to eke out a victory.
James Cook is fourth amongst running backs for carries, second for yards, and first for touchdowns. Allen has weapons at his disposal - a blossoming Keon Coleman, and a Khalil Shakir that's causing more and more headaches for opposing defensive schemes with each passing week. The defence looms as one to watch in the back half of the season, with new-look personnel showing signs of gelling already.
All of this means Allen just has to be clean, rather than mesmerising, and he's doing just that. 70% completion percentage on the year, and a TD-INT ratio of 7-1 combine to give him the second-best QBR in the league.
With the Ravens and Bengals decimated by injuries, and the Chiefs a relative unknown, the AFC appears to be the Bills' for the taking.
