CINCINNATI — The Athletic's Mike Jones broke down each NFL team owner's desire to win a championship this week. He slotted Mike Brown and the Bengals in the "Content To Compete" section, below "Contention Mode" and "Willing To Do What It Takes To Win" among the five total categories.
Cincinnati's static treatment of the defense knocked them down to that third tier with Arizona and New Orleans.
"Yes, they made hefty investments in wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins," Jones wrote. "But those moves felt more like notoriously frugal owner Mike Brown caving to the demands of franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. Cincinnati thus far has neglected to truly upgrade the defense, which is a must if the Bengals are serious about trying to overtake Kansas City, Buffalo, and Baltimore in the AFC."
Cincinnati currently holds top-10 betting odds to win the Super Bowl this coming season but is tied for 13th on this tiering.
The Bengals could still boost the defense in the rest of free agency and the draft to close next month.
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