Bengals' Defensive Woes Raise Doubts About 2025 Playoff Chances

As of August 9th, 2025, the Cincinnati Bengals have kicked off their preseason with a disappointing 34-27 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. This result has led FS1 analyst Nick Wright to voice his doubts about the Bengals' chances of making the playoffs this year.

According to Wright, the Bengals have failed to address the defensive issues that plagued them last season. Despite the team's offensive prowess, with a great quarterback in Joe Burrow and talented receivers, Wright believes the defense remains a significant concern. He argues that simply changing the defensive coordinator is not enough to fix the problems.

The Bengals' defense last season was ranked 12th in passing yards allowed, 4th in passing touchdowns allowed, 14th in rushing yards, and 9th in rushing touchdowns allowed. Wright suggests that these numbers need to improve significantly if the Bengals want to contend for a playoff spot, let alone a Super Bowl. However, he remains skeptical that the team will be able to make the necessary defensive improvements.

As the 2025 season approaches, the Bengals will need to find a way to shore up their defense if they hope to build on their offensive success and secure a postseason berth.