Tough ending to the Super Bowl but it's been a great ride to get there! Not looking to get into the Refs and penalties or play calls as those have been covered in the other thread.
Should be plenty of TV coverage next year for the Bengals with their offensive stars and many attractive matchups thanks to the harder schedule. I doubt the one single early Thursday night game will be their only national game. I've been thrilled to see the Bengals coverage and support for the Bengals here in CBus as well as down in Cincy. Bengals nation hopefully is awake and growing.
Offense-Burrow protection must be the main focus of the off season. Are there any really strong solid free agents available or in the draft? Has to be upgrades across the line. Spain is a free agent- did he do enough to resign? Hopkins- is there a better center out there or will he be better as he recovers from injury? Adiniji and Prince can't be starters ever again. Reiff is a free agent but is he interested in resigning? He made 7.5 mill. Don't forget CJ at 6.1-hope he resigns.
Defense- Bates needs to be resigned but his team will want top $s-Franchise tag? Need to continue to upgrade at CB- Apple had a good year but can't see resigning him at big money. They need to find a better option and to me this is the main off season focus on defense. I'd also like to see them resign Ogunjobi but again he probably wants a big multiyear contract. Wilson and Pratt made big strides at LB this years and Wilson will be the long term answer at LB.
Coaches- probably some turnover there but I think the staff did a great job all year. Taylor will get his deserved extension and Anarumo deserves a raise as well.
AFC North- All 3 have strong defenses but everyone has issues at QB. Baltimore with Lamar- this marks 2 years now he's been injured. Running QBs open themselves to more injuries and defenses seem to have figured him out a bit. Pitt needs a new Qb. Cleveland with Baker injured and no really good Wrs.
This was a unexpectedly great season for the Bengals and even with the loss I'm thrilled with how it's been the last couple months. If you told me back in August that the Bengals would play in the Super Bowl, I'd have questioned your sanity.
I'll probably think of addition items and enter those in comments.
