2014 NFL Preview: Everything you need to know about the Cincinnati Bengals

AFC Previews
BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ
BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT
HOU | IND | JAX | TEN
DEN | KC | OAK | SD
NFC Previews
DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS
CHI | DET | GB | MIN
ATL | CAR | NO | TB
ARI | STL | SF | SEA

Cincinnati Bengals

Schedule | Roster

The Bengals' 2013 season ended the same way the previous two did: with a disappointing and rapid playoff exit.

Quarterback Andy Dalton became one of only five quarterbacks in NFL history to lead his team to the postseason in each of his first three seasons, but he had perhaps his worst game as a pro in last year's playoff start, tossing two interceptions and fumbling the ball away once in a 27-10 loss to the San Diego Chargers. 

Dalton looked like anything but a franchise quarterback in the game, and his performance did nothing to quell the rising talk about how he may have already peaked and isn't worthy of his long-term contract extension.

Despite the playoff disappointment, the Bengals' coaching staff was picked nearly clean in the offseason by teams on the hunt for head coaches. Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden departed for Washington, and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer bolted for Minnesota.

This year promises to act as a referendum on the deep core of this Bengals regime. Can head coach Marvin Lewis and Dalton carry a team deep into the postseason, or are radical changes necessary?

Preseason Power Ranking - #9

The Bengals have to be tired of hearing that they will only go as far as Dalton will take them. After three seasons and three opening-round playoff losses, the Bengals will likely take some control away from Dalton and lean more heavily on the ground game under new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. More ...

Key Additions/Departures

Key Additions: S Danieal Manning, QB Jason Campbell

Key Departures: DE Michael Johnson, LT Anthony Collins, WR Andrew Hawkins, LB James Harrison

As usual, the Bengals were quiet in free agency. Owner Mike Brown is famously frugal, and he wasn't able to convince defensive end Michael Johnson to remain in Cincinnati on a team-friendly deal.

The Bengals will replace most of their departed free agents from within, as they have for years now. Luckily, they have one of the NFL's deepest rosters - the result of a very successful stretch of drafts.

2014 Draft Class 

The Bengals used their eight draft picks to get stronger and tougher, selecting players who embody those qualities. And, as usual, they found value by snatching up players who fell further than they perhaps should have.

Dennard is a reliable, physical cornerback who some had ranked as the top at his position in this class. The Bengals can afford to ease him into their defense, but it may not be long before he seizes a starting job. With recent injuries to Leon Hall and uneven play from 2012 first-round pick Dre Kirkpatrick, the Bengals simply couldn't pass on adding a player like Dennard to their secondary.

Hill is a bruising one-cut runner who should provide an excellent complement to starter Giovani Bernard's jitterbug style. Look for him to take over goal-line duties from Day 1 and eventually carve out a bigger role. It's possible we'll eventually see a 50-50 split between the two.

Bodine shouldn't have much difficulty earning the starting job at center.

The selection of McCarron was puzzling, as the former Alabama passer is considered to have many of the same weaknesses as Dalton. McCarron doesn't have a huge arm, doesn't offer above-average athleticism and is, in many ways, at his best when his role in the offense is minimized. If Dalton struggles this season, expect to hear loud calls for the high-profile McCarron to get his shot.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Marvin Lewis
Offensive Coordinator: Hue Jackson
Defensive Coordinator: Paul Guenther

Raids on the Bengals' coaching staff have left the team with two new coordinators in 2014, but not everyone views the situation as a step back. Major changes to the team's offensive and defensive philosophies aren't expected, as the team found new coordinators by promoting in-house.

Jackson, a former Oakland Raiders head coach, will inherit the Bengals' offense, and he's expected to orchestrate a run-heavy scheme like the one he used to guide Darren McFadden to a career year in 2010.

Guenther will make the leap from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator. He may be a little less fiery than former boss Zimmer (who isn't?), but he should be able to coax similar production out of what was a top-five defense a season ago.

2014 Schedule

The Bengals will play three nationally televised prime-time games this season, two of them against the only two AFC teams who finished ahead of the Bengals in the 2013 standings (the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos).

The hated Steelers are on the schedule twice in December and those games could determine which of the two teams plays on into January.

Bold Predictions

The Bengals will boast a top-three rushing offense. Before Dalton can take a giant leap forward, he’ll have to take a step backward to work on some fundamentals. Under his new offensive coordinator Jackson, that will manifest itself in a significant reduction in Dalton’s passing attempts. Look for the team to lean on young running backs Bernard and Hill as the two should form a dynamic thunder and lightning approach. - David Woods

The Bengals will miss the playoffs. The Bengals have made the postseason in three straight years and, despite having not won a playoff game, they displayed faith in Dalton by giving him a contract extension. While the Bengals strength of schedule doesn’t look particularly tough, they end the year with five of seven games on the road. Tough early season contests against the Ravens, Patriots, and Colts means the Bengals will be fighting for a spot in the postseason come the end of the year. The road-heavy schedule late in the season will keep the Bengals on the outside of the playoffs looking in. - Mike Dickson