With Joe Burrow missing significant action for the second time in three years and the defense continuing to be a major issue, the 2025 Bengals limped to a 6-11 record. But that wasn't enough to cost head coach Zac Taylor his job, making him the only returning head coach in the division. He'll have to hope Burrow can play all 17 games this year while the defense takes a step forward in its second season under Al Golden, with the help of a number of reinforcements up front added this offseason.
We're taking a look at everything you need to know before making Cincinnati Bengals futures bets below, including odds, trends, 2026 schedule, offseason changes and more before sharing our preseason betting strategy for the team. Fans interested in betting on NFL and Super Bowl futures should check out the latest DraftKings promo code. The Bengals have caught a significant amount of steam to the Over on their win total despite making relatively few moves during the offseason.
That could mean a lot of hope is being pinned on the upgraded defensive line as well as Burrow to remain healthy all season. Their odds to win the division have shortened each month since we started monitoring the market. After two straight trips to the AFC Championship Game, the Bengals haven't come close to hitting the Over on their win total over the last three years.
Part of that is Burrow's health, but a key part of the issue is a defense that went from respectable to dreadful from 2021-22 to the last three years. Getting back to contention starts with reversing that trend. If you want to wager on NFL futures, you have to check out the latest FanDuel promo code.
The Bengals finished bottom four in yards per play defending the run and pass, resulting in a last-place finish in overall yards allowed per play. That led to a focus on beefing up the defensive line, but the Bengals certainly need better play from the back seven as well. While the offense was below average in both the pass and run game on a per-play basis, excellent performances in key situations like third downs and the red zone kept the unit afloat while the much maligned offensive line finished 10th in sacks per pass attempt.
The status quo remains on offense, while the Bengals threw most of their resources at upgrading the defensive line. That included sending the No. 10 overall pick for Dexter Lawrence, whose Giants were the only team worse against the run than the Bengals on a per play basis. That's not necessarily a knock on Lawrence, who has graded out as an elite defensive lineman over the last four seasons.
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