Cincinnati Bengals thinking playoffs (with perhaps a victory in January) this year: Win total examined for 2014 season

It’s hard being a Cincinnati Bengals fan these days. Sure the team (11-5) has made the playoffs three straight years out of the once perennially tough AFC North, but whereas Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco have been money in the playoffs the last decade, Andy Dalton is 0-3.

What’s also unsettling is the fact Dalton had a full compliment of offensive weapons in those games, as well as during the season. In fact, if you look at the team’s 2013 statistics, the only issue is the run game where it ranked 18th. When it came to passing, Dalton had the Bengals ranked a respectable 8th. The real secret to the team’s success is its defense, which last season was ranked 5th against both the pass and rush.

Hoping to keep the defense stout, the Bengals drafted highly-touted cornerback Darqueze Dennard in the first round. Now the question is whether Dalton and the offense can score enough to make a deep run into the post-season.

Looking to this season, the Bengals face five playoff teams with an overall schedule featuring opponents boasting a .469 winning percentage last year (23^rd toughest in the league). Furthermore, the Bengals will be playing only one set of back-to-back road games.

Oddsmakers have Cincinnati posted at 9 for o/u wins. Invariably, it all comes down to whether the Steelers, Ravens and Browns get better because if those teams struggle again this year, the Bengals could easily be in double-digit wins for the season.