ESPN analyst makes Bengals' Week 1 and 2 prediction that unfortunately makes sense

The Cincinnati Bengals have had some frustrating seasons in recent years, with injuries, poor defensive performances, and questionable coaching since their Super Bowl run in 2021.

While they've only sported a losing record in one of the four years since that Super Bowl appearance, the Bengals have had one issue come up consistently: slow starts to the season.

Ironically, their lone losing record featured a 2-0 start. But, in all of their other seasons, they dropped the first few games and wound up above .500. ESPN's Ben Baby is predicting a similar unfortunate outcome will occur in 2026.

"The Bengals will start the season 0-2 but find their form in the middle of the season," Baby predicts. "Slow starts have been an issue for Cincinnati in the past. And opening with Tampa Bay and Houston could prove a challenge for the Bengals, who have a lot to prove."

Thanks to a tough start to their season, this prediction from Baby, while unfortunate, is one that makes sense and might actually be a good omen for success.

Bengals predicted to start 0-2 that both makes sense, and is a good omen

The Bengals are coming into the 2026 season with a huge test at hand for their defense. It's a new-look unit, led by Dexter Lawrence, and one that needs to be better.

They will begin the year with one game at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before leaving for the Houston Texans down south for their first road game of the year.

Those two offenses have shown good production in recent years, but also cracks that good defenses can exploit. This will be a key test early for the Bengals.

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But, with Baby predicting a loss in both of these weeks, the Bengals defense either doesn't show up to play, or both the Texans and Buccaneers defenses can limit Joe Burrow and the offense to begin the season.

It's entirely possible the Bengals start 0-2 with these two tricky matchups, and as the season goes along, the new-look defense begins to jell, while Burrow and the offense find their footing after another slow start.

The slower starts have actually been a sign of a successful season, while their lone 2-0 start to a season resulted in their worst record since 2020.

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