CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals open the 2022 NFL regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 11 at Paul Brown Stadium.
That's when the Bengals can start to prove their status as bonafide contenders for years to come. Cincinnati is coming off a narrow Super Bowl LVI loss to the Los Angeles Rams. But despite the team's first conference championship in 33 years, oddsmakers don't have Cincinnati among the favorites to win the AFC again.
The Bengals are bolstered by one of the most promising passing attacks in the NFL. Quarterback Joe Burrow enters his third season and is one of the league's most accurate quarterbacks. Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021. On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo fielded a solid unit that was the backbone of last year's postseason run.
QUARTERBACK (2): Joe Burrow, Brandon Allen
Cincinnati has carried two quarterbacks the past couple of seasons and this one should be pretty simple. Brandon Allen will be the back-up behind Joe Burrow. Jake Browning, who is still on the 90-man roster, was the practice squad quarterback in 2021.
