Fox Sports and other media networks that cover the NFL have been busily previewing the upcoming 2026 season. As is the case every year, there are a plethora of possible stories to cover, some legitimate, some not.
One of the NFL franchises that has been getting some significant coverage over the last several days has been the Cincinnati Bengals. After a disappointing 2025 season, the Bengals are drawing interest from the media because quarterback Joe Burrow is back and healthy. He was limited to just eight games last season due to injury.
The thing is, though, Fox Sports’ analysts cannot figure out what the big deal is.
Fox Sports analysts go off on the media for giving Joe Burrow and the Bengals attention
With Burrow back and healthy, there are some who cover the NFL that believe that the Bengals could get back to the Super Bowl in 2026.
Nick Wright, one of the most popular analysts in all sports media, just does not see it:
See Joe Burrow & the Bengals getting back to the Super Bowl?@getnickwright: “I am stunned at how much attention they are getting… it’s been 4 years since they have played in a playoff game.”@kevinwildes: “When you say it like that, it’s absurd!” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/P8gWeivw2F
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) June 18, 2026
In the video above, Wright points out that Cincinnati has not even played in an NFL Playoff game in four years. He questions, then, why so many people are putting them in Super Bowl conversations right now.
Kevin Wildes responded, “When you say it like that, it’s absurd!”
And it certainly is. Remember, the Bengals also parted ways with All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson this off-season. Not only that, but he also now plays for the Baltimore Ravens, one of Cincinnati’s division rivals.
The fact of the matter is that the Bengals likely did not get better this off-season. Meanwhile, the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers made significant moves to not only upgrade their rosters, but also their coaching staffs.
If Cincinnati is to make the postseason, much less win the Super Bowl, numerous players are going to have to over-perform. Burrow has not been able to play a full season in two of the past three years. When healthy, he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and always gives Cincinnati a chance to win on any given Sunday.
But that is not enough to seriously consider the Bengals a possible Super Bowl contender.
