It’s that time of the year again. Summer is in full spring. The stores are in Back-to-School Sale mode. Politicians suddenly give a flying fornication about the people they represent. But most importantly, its time for the DFO Team Previews. And like Freeform must give way to the 700 Club, so must DFO give way to an equally horrible, holier-than-thou piece of pond scum who brings nothing but blight and gloom to wherever they appear…me

Disclaimer: Door Flies Open, their affiliates, administrators, bookies, and bartenders disavow all views expressed by Redshirt and encourage you to continue humor him like usual. He’s an idiot; he hasn’t noticed then and won’t notice now.

The return of football has also given away to cautious optimism. Bengals fans are always excited to see the beloved stripes return, but now it gives way to something more: Expectations. What in past used to be wishful thoughts of finishing around .500, gave way to possibly winning a playoff game, and naturally led to a playoff run has now led to realistically delusional thoughts of actually winning a Super Bowl. That’s not your usual “if everything goes right” thing. This is a reasonable expectation.

That is what Joe Burrow has done to this city. We no longer dream of winning it all; we just assume it should happen. The unreasonable has become reasonable.

2023 Cincinnati Bengals Recap

In last year’s preview, due to the uncertainty of Burrow’s calf injury, I predicted three scenarios.  However, I couldn’t have predicted the Bengals would stay afloat after Joe Burrow was lost for the last seven games.  While you could tell they weren’t the same team, the fact they were able to go 4-3 with Jake Browning was impressive in itself.

2024 AFC North at a Glance

Baltimore Ravens: Finally put together a playoff run.  Now must prove it wasn’t a fluke, but with Derrick Henry lining up in the backfield with Lamar Jackson, that may be far easier than expected.

Cleveland Browns: Made the playoffs but got rid of the QB who led them there in the first place.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Made the playoffs but got rid of the QB who led them there in the first place.

2024 Cincinnati Bengals Position Breakdown

QB: A lot more stable than last year.  Joe Burrow is healthy and with last year’s performance rewarded with a new contract, Jake Browning has locked up the backup role.

RB: Joe Mixon has finally gone, and the Bengals have gone bargain-hunting got a replacement in Zack Moss that is more cost effective to the role they need.  This was assumed.  With Joe Burrow at the helm, they are not going to be a run-first team.  However, they did plan for this with drafting Chase Brown last year.  All Brown and Moss need to do is be good enough running the ball to keep the defense honest and be ready to catch the ball if the receivers are covered.

WR: Tyler Boyd is now in Tennessee, but rest assured they have responded by extending Tee Higgins to…a one-year Franchise Tag contract?  Okay, so Boyd is gone, and Higgins is on an one year lease, but the most important thing is re-signing JaMarr Chase.  He’s Joe Burrow’s favorite target.  He opens things up for the other receiver, so it makes sense…that he’s Holding In for a new contract?  Terrific.  As for the WR situations that the Bengals haven’t screwed up yet, 3rd Round draft pick Jermaine Burton has gotten good reviews so far and 2nd-year player Andrei Iosivas fills the dual-role of drafted replacement for a departed player and the Bengals’ requirement for having a player with a hard to pronounce last name.

TE: The Bengals continue their search for a dependable target for Joe Burrow.  They drafted Erick All from Iowa by way from Michigan and signed Mike Gesicki from New England by way of Miami.  With the recent changeover/uncertainty in the WR corps, we should find out early if they will be an answer to this continued quandary.

OL: As always, the key to the Bengals success will rely on how this unit performs.  If they keep Burrow upright and open holes for the running game, success will surely follow. …and I just got an update that the 1st round tackle they drafted who had injury issues is hurt and out for a couple of weeks.  So, that’s promising.

DL: Continues to be an unexpected key to the Bengals success.  Trey Hendrickson has rewritten the Bengals record books and all but put his name in the Bengals Ring of Honor.

LB: The most stable part of the team.  No superstars, but good players who hustle to the ball.

CB: Easily the weakest part of the defense last year.  However, they responded by revamping the safety positions, getting Geno Stone from Baltimore, and getting Vonn Bell back from a one-year sojourn to Carolina.

K/P: Evan McPherson continues to be the most popular person on the field with clutch field goals.  Punter is…just there…not great, but not bad.  Brad Robbins will probably win, but don’t be surprised if they hit the waiver wire on Cut Day.

Season Prediction

Okay, I get it.  Our QB has had three injuries in four seasons, our RB has been sacrificed for our WRs and our three WR1s is in the process of being slowing reduced to hopefully one WR1 and hopefully two WR2s.  However, the core of this team is still intact.  The culture of this team is far better than what it has been.  Plus, and most importantly, they are a 9-8 team playing a Last Place Schedule.  That should help to stack up the W’s.

With Joe Burrow and this team, I am confident that they will rise to the occasion and climb the Steps of Destiny!

12-5 and our Penultimate Hope against a Kansas City Three-Peat

Also, the Bengals just confirmed the Orange Pants leak from Madden. They are gawdy, unnecessary and I am so looking forward to the first Orange Out