Cincinnati Bengals

How the Bengals, 3-0 once again, can avoid last year’s slide

Published Sep. 29, 2015 3:57 p.m. ET

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Last year, the Cincinnati Bengals went from winning three straight games to winless in three straight on the way to a 3-2-1 record. 

After three impressive victories, the Bengals are once again drawing praise from around the league, but they are being careful not to get ahead of themselves this time around. 

"We can't start feeling ourselves just because we're 3-0," safety George Iloka told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "We still have 13 more games this season. I think that's kind of what hurt us last year. We started feeling ourselves, started smelling ourselves too much and getting into the power rankings, things like that."

The experience of a missed opportunity will prevent the Bengals from resting on their laurels but there are other reasons why they will be hosting at least one game in January. 

1. AFC North is weaker than anticipated

There won't be a repeat of last year when three teams from within the division made the playoffs. The Ravens are off to their worst start in franchise history at 0-3, and the reigning champion Steelers will be without their star quarterback for at least a month. The Browns, well, are the Browns.

2. More weapons for Andy Dalton in passing game

Receiver Marvin Jones and tight end Tyler Eifert are already paying dividends for the Bengals' offense after both missed virtually all of 2014. A.J. Green is 100 percent after a lingering toe injury kept him out of three full games and the bulk of two others. plus the playoff loss in Indianapolis. Remember, the Bengals' receiving corps was so decimated the team was forced to deploy running back Rex Burkhead at receiver against the Colts.

3. Offensive-line depth

The Bengals ran into trouble on the right side of their line when tackle Andre Smith went down for seven games in 2014, and guard Kevin Zeitler missed four. This year, they have their top-two draft picks waiting in the wings plus veteran Eric Winston with a year in the system, in case things go south. First-round tackle Cedric Ogbuehi is still recovering from a torn ACL but stands a chance of joining the active roster later in the season.

4. Jeremy Hill

Cincinnati has won three straight without much help from Hill, its second-year running back who overtook Giovani Bernard as the starter down the stretch last season. Hill has just 123 yards on 41 carries and has taken a backseat to Bernard in the second half of the last two games. Hill will undoubtedly get it going at some point to give the Bengals a more balanced attack.

5. Front-seven depth

The Bengals made several additions to their defensive front after notching a league-worst 20 sacks last season, but the biggest reason for improvement is Geno Atkins. Atkins wasn't his usual self in 2014 as he worked his way back from a torn ACL. Now at full speed, he is proving to be a menace up front again with two sacks already. A.J. Hawk has been holding down the fort at outside linebacker, and if Vontaze Burfict is able to regain any semblance of his old form, it will be a huge bonus. 

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