Can 2026 Bengals make 2019 LSU-type run? Here’s why Joe Burrow was right

When star Joe Burrow made comparisons between the 2019 LSU team and the current Cincinnati Bengals, there was no doubt about the amount of varying opinions that came from the take. As the Bengals prepare for the 2026 season, here is a look at why there should be stock put into what Burrow is saying.

Looking at the initial comments made earlier this week, Burrow would go into how he is feeling “very similarly” with the vibes of this Cincinnati team compared to the 2019 LSU Tigers team that ended up winning a national championship.

“You go back and watch what I said before the 2019 season at LSU,” Burrow said, according to The Athletic. “I feel very similarly about this team. I feel like there is so much greatness we are going to be able to achieve this year.”

It’s not like Burrow hasn’t been confident in his career before, but even he is adding a ton of pressure to the expectations of the Bengals, which could show an extra certainty in the quality of the team. When it comes to the pressure, Burrow welcomes it:

“I hope so, I hope so,” Burrow said. “I think that’s great. Put pressure on guys. I love it. I thrive in it. We will find out who else does. I know that we have the kind of people that want to be in that spot, I want everybody talking about the Bengals. I want everybody talking about what I am saying in my press conferences.”

Let’s look into some why Burrow’s comments shouldn’t be passed aside:

The Bengals’ offense once again looks explosive

There’s no denying that the Bengals have been hit with a string of bad luck, especially when it comes to injuries, such as even to Burrow, having played in eight games last season. When he’s on the field and healthy, he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the entire NFL, and with dynamic pass-catchers like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins back, plus a dependable running back room, it’s easy to see why the offense could be great.

However, what can’t be said enough is how Cincinnati is having stability when it comes to their offensive line, returning all five starters back in Dalton Risner, Ted Karras, Dylan Fairchild, Orlando Brown Jr., and Amarius Mims. What has been a crutch for the team for the longest, it’s no longer a liability.

“To have all these guys back is a big advantage early in the season,” Burrow said in late May, via the team’s website. “You don’t have young guys trying to fit into the mix and learn the communication on the fly. These guys had a lot of reps last year together, and communication is so key on the offensive line, and to be able to have reps at that is so valuable.”

Have the Bengals improved on their weak defense from last season?

While the Bengals’ offense could put up big numbers, just as Burrow and Chase did together with LSU in 2019, the defense was the one side of the ball that faced many questions coming into the season. After a disastrous 2025, Cincinnati went and added some key pieces like trading for Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants, plus making a presence in free agency with the signing of Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Kyle Dugger, and others.

There is no denying that the Bengals are looking to make a huge presence in 2026, with Burrow excited more than he’s ever been before about the team he’s playing on.

“I am so excited to get started,” Burrow said. “I wish we would ramp this right into training camp so we can continue to improve. Because I feel like there is so much greatness we are going to be able to achieve this year.”

“We’re deep at just about every position on the team,” Burrow continued. “We’ve talked a lot this year about (how) in years past, we wondered who was going to make the team; it was top-heavy. This year, it’s guys that were once at the top level that were on the team for sure; now there’s a lot of competition for those spots at the end of that list. It’s the first year that’s really the case, in my opinion, it’s an exciting place to be where you have too many good players, it’s our job to try to find ways to make this work, build that trust, and build those relationships.”

Cincinnati looks to improve after finishing with a 6-11 record.

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