Sports Illustrated's Matt Verdarame ranked all 32 NFL head coach/quarterback duos.
The Bengals snuck into the top 10 with Joe Burrow and Zac Taylor.
Cincinnati is ranked ninth overall, with Burrow fourth among quarterbacks and Taylor 16th among head coaches. It's a two-spot drop from last year's ranking.
"The Bengals might not have much defense, but they employ a good coach and a top-five quarterback," Verdarame wrote. "Burrow, the former No. 1 pick, had his best season in 2024, throwing for league-bests with 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns to help Cincinnati stay in playoff contention until the final day. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins signed long-term, expect more fireworks for years to come."
The ranking puts Cincinnati third on the list among AFC North teams behind Pittsburgh (No. 6 assuming Aaron Rodgers plays for them) and Baltimore (No. 2).
It's another example of how tightly contested the AFC North is and how strong the coaching ranks are in a brutal division.
Burrow can't do a whole lot more to elevate his production after 40-plus passing touchdowns and nearly 5,000 yards last season, but Taylor can take another leap with his preseason planning and in-game decision-making.
