This is the year Joe Burrow stays healthy and his defense isn’t steaming-hot junk.
It’s got to be.
Finally.
Right?
Right!?!
Hotdiggity did Burrow’s somber press conference on his 29th birthday harken back to Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement. He looked and sounded defeated. Now, Joe Cool is completely rejuvenated — and for good reason. Cincinnati busted out the checkbook and got itself a defense this offseason. Boye Mafe. Bryan Cook. Dexter Lawrence. Unlike summers past, the vibes are damn good.
So, let’s get our pal Paul Dehner Jr. on the horn. A recurring guest on the Go Long Podcast, Paul is the exceptional Bengals beat writer at The Athletic and the host of The Growler podcast. This past week, he authored a viral must-read on the darling of Bengals training camp: wide receiver Dohnte Meyers. (It’s worth your time.)
We’ve had fun tracking the Burrow Era at Go Long ourselves. From the Villains on D to the “Son of Zeus” to vets like Tyler Boyd, Chidobe Awuzie and DJ Reader, and future NFL head coach Dan Pitcher.
Confidence — into 2026 — is soaring for the Bengals, as we learn.
Paul helps us get inside the mind of Burrow and set the scene for what could be a championship season.
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2026 Season Preview Features to date:
