Week 3 Cincinnati Bengals Power Rankings Roundup

Sep 20, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) celebrates after defeating the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-0, but more importantly, they got a quality win in Houston against the Texans last Sunday.

As a result of a dominant defensive performance against a team that just lit up the Buffalo Bills, the Bengals jumped in the power rankings of all the major outlets. Read below:

ESPN - No. 9 6

Joe Burrow is a tough customer. ... he made all the necessary plays to steer the Bengals to their first 2-0 start with him as a healthy quarterback." - Ben Baby

NFL.com - No. 3 1

Dexter Lawrence has transformed this Bengals front, and everyone is benefitting." - Nick Shook

Yahoo! Sports - No. 5 7

The Texans' run game was simply dreadful on Sunday when it had to carry the offense with receiver Nico Collins out." - Frank Schwab

USA TODAY - No. 6 3

Who are these guys? The six points allowed Sunday were tied for Cincinnati's fewest in a game in the past decade." - Nate Davis

Pro Football Talk - No. 3 4

Joe Burrow can't keep taking these kinds of beatings." - Mike Florio

Sports Illustrated - No. 6 7

We have not seen anything close to peak Bengals right now... I pray the team remains averse to the kind of injury witchcraft that normally derails its season." - Conor Orr

Sporting News - No. 6 5

The Bengals have shaken off their history of slow starting under Zac Taylor with a second successful 2-0 start." - Vinnie Iyer

CBS Sports - No. 4 4

The defense has been much improved, which is why they are up this high. Joe Burrow hasn't even gotten it going yet." - Pete Prisco

New York Post - No. 5 7

Ja'Marr Chase made a spectacular toe-dragging 32-yard touchdown catch for the first of his two scores against the vaunted Texans' defense." - Ryan Dunleavy

Up next, the Bengals face the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road.

We previewed that game with ESPN's Ben Baby and Urinating Tree, a Steelers fan who relentlessly covers the team.