As Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season is in the books, former tight end Rob Gronkowski dropped a bold take on Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. Following their Week 1 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots, Gronkowski said the Bengals will miss the playoffs for a second straight season.
Appearing on Kay Adams' "Up & Adams" show on FanDuel TV, Gronkowski said he doesn't see the Bengals making the playoffs this year. With Cincinnati being in a competitve division, Gronkowski see the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers being playoff bound, while the Bengals and Cleveland Browns will be on the outside looking in.
Gronkowski said:
"The Bengals always start slow. It's beginning of the year. Still, the Bengals just aren't there. I feel like they're continuing from last year, where they left off. They're just up and down and just not consistent at all. I don't think they got it at all right now.
Boost your Fantasy Football game: Use our Draft tool for better picks,make smart lineup choices with Start/Sit tool & trade better with Trade Analyzer
"I think they're gonna miss the playoffs again. The Baltimore Ravens and you got the Pittsburgh Steelers that will be going to the playoffs. The Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals will be in the mix. They will be fighting, but they will not make it."
Last season, the Bengals did indeed start slow. They were 1-3 in their first four games with Burrow playing poorly to start the season after becoming the then-highest-paid quarterback in the league. They still finished the season with a 9-8 record but missed the playoffs.
Joe Burrow and Cincinnati Bengals are looking to avoid 0-2 start
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals have the chance to show everyone that should still be viewed as a contender in the AFC. Burrow and the Bengals have been one of the best teams in the AFC the last couple of years, and even defeated Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 to make the Super Bowl.
In Week 2, the two AFC powerhouses will meet. The Bengals face the tough ask of playing on the road at Arrowhead Stadium in front of some of the loudest fans in the world.
Burrow has a 3-1 career record against Mahomes and the Chiefs and is looking for win No. 4. It won't come easy, but the Bengals should be extra hungry for a win coming off their Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots.
Bengals Nation! Check out the latest Cincinnati Bengals Schedule and dive into the Bengals Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.