The new-look Cincinnati Bengals defense came under fire this summer for some shaky-looking preseason performances as the unit gets underway with Al Golden at the coordinator spot.

But reports out of training camp practices and commentary from coaches have created an interesting scenario where ESPN’s Dan Graziano makes the bold prediction that the Bengals could actually go back to the AFC title game this year:

“The outside concern about the way the defense has looked in preseason games is not shared by those inside the building. The Bengals are installing a new scheme under new defensive coordinator Al Golden, and the coaching staff made a conscious decision to put as little of that scheme on tape as possible in the televised preseason games.”

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The idea of Joe Burrow’s offense willing the team back to the playoffs isn’t a bold one. It is, however, to suggest the defense could play a big role in that so soon after the shaky preseason.

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Either way, Bengals fans were right to panic a little when the first string and beyond suffered in live action over the last month. Whether it was a case of the team holding things back for the regular season or a hint of something more concerning will reveal itself pretty quickly with Week 1 here.

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