2021 NFL Power Rankings: Cincinnati Bengals

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Cincinnati Bengals rank in terms of average, best and worst:

Average ranking: 7.4 (7th)
Best ranking: 5 (NFL.com)
Worst ranking: 10 (ESPN)

Below you will find a Week 18 roundup for the Bengals in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 10

New Year's resolution: Improve Joe Burrow's protection

Stop me if you've heard this before: The Bengals QB is at risk in the pocket a little more than anyone is probably comfortable with. Before being dissuaded from this resolution by any positive comments, let's take a look at the numbers. The Bengals rank 31st in pass block win rate, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. They were also 31st in 2019 and tied for 29th in 2020. Burrow has been contacted 89 times inside the pocket -- the third-highest total in the league, per ESPN Stats & Information research. The Bengals need improvement from current players and some offseason acquisitions to finally get the pass blocking somewhere near par. -- Ben Baby

NFL.com -- Rank: 5

The Bengals are the most fun team in the NFL right now and second place isn't even in the rearview. Led by Joe Burrow (971 yards passing over the past two weeks) and Ja'Marr Chase (a rookie-record 266 receiving yards in Week 17), Cincinnati has gone from AFC North afterthought to division champion and legit Super Bowl contender. "I said it in the preseason," Burrow said after beating the Chiefs. "We were talking about playoffs, and I said that if we were going to go to the playoffs, the easiest way to do that was to win the division. Everyone kind of laughed at us a little bit, but we knew what kind of team we had." This team believes.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 7

Their offense has them as division champs after beating the Chiefs in a shootout last week. Joe Burrow is on fire.

USA Today -- Rank: 9

The last time they won a playoff game was 1990, when they beat the Houston Oilers ... before losing to the Los Angeles Raiders the following week. Wow. History. Cincinnati now has a nifty shot to end its league-long 31-year streak of infamy.

The Athletic -- Rank: 6

Future MVP: After what we watched Sunday afternoon, it's impossible to separate Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, so we're going to bend the rules here and pick them both. There are plenty of exciting quarterback-receiver duos in the league, but if we're talking about youth and long-term potential, there isn't one better than Burrow and Chase.

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