The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2021 season with extremely low expectations.
Well, low from a national perspective.
They were seen as a team just trying to get back on track after Joe Burrow returned from a season-ending knee injury.
The Bengals are now in the Super Bowl after taking down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
It has been a truly remarkable run and anyone who bet on the Bengals during the preseason is in line to make some serious money.
Longest odds to win the Super Bowl this preseason:
– Texans (250-1): 4-13, picking 3rd overall
– Lions (200-1): 3-13-1, picking 2nd overall
– Jaguars (125-1): 3-14, picking 1st overall
– Jets (125-1): 4-13, picking 4th overall
– Bengals (125-1): Playing in the Super Bowl
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 11, 2022
As shared by ESPN’s Field Yates, Cincinnati had 125-1 odds of winning the Super Bowl before the season began.
The other four teams near them in the odds are picking in the top four spots in the 2022 NFL Draft.
That shows just how much the Bengals have risen to the top of the NFL in such a short amount of time.
A Remarkable Turnaround
The franchise went 2-14 in 2019 to land the No. 1 overall pick ultimately used on Burrow.
Yet things did not get much better in 2020 with a 4-11-1 record.
Yes, Burrow was hurt, but it was still a dismal finish.
Then everything drastically changed this season.
Burrow was playing like an MVP and Ja’Marr Chase looked like Randy Moss on the outside.
The entire team played well as a unit and got hot at the best possible time.
Almost there. 🔜#SuperBowl | #RuleItAll pic.twitter.com/qGkSpQ3Yjs
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) February 11, 2022
They showed up with zero playoff experience and took down a Chiefs team that is still in the realm of being a dynasty.
The Bengals have proven that a rapid turnaround can take place if the right pieces are brought together.
That leaves teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets wondering if they too can make a Super Bowl in a year or two.
NEXT: NFL World Reacts To Carson Palmer's Comments