John Clay: Prediction: With Joe Burrow healthy, the Bengals will be back in the Super Bowl

Joe Burrow has a new haircut. You might have seen it. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback has gone bleached blond. Why? Burrow said he was bored. Said he was in the mood for something different.

You know what would be something different? A healthy Joe Burrow for a full 17 games and the postseason. That didn’t happen in 2023. The Bengals missed the playoffs. It did happen in 2022 and the Bengals reached the AFC title game. It did happen in 2021 and Cincinnati not only reached the AFC title game, the Bengals made it to the Super Bowl.

It says here that will happen again. It says here that with Burrow and his new haircut, plus an improved defense and a different outlook, will send the Bengals back to the Super Bowl as the AFC champions.

That path starts Sunday when the New England Patriots roll into Paycor Stadium. Connecticut basketball coach Dan Hurley will be there as something called the “Ruler of the Jungle.” Hurley’s Huskies have won back-to-back NCAA Tournament titles. Maybe owner Mike Brown hopes some Hurley luck will rub off on his Bengals.

The Patriots are not the Patriots of old. Bill Belichick is no longer their coach. And they’re not very good. After a 4-13 finish a year ago, Jerod Mayo is the new man with the lead whistle. Journeyman Jacoby Brissett is New England’s starting quarterback, though most see Brissett as a placeholder for when rookie Drake Maye, 2024’s No. 3 overall draft pick, is ready to take the wheel.

Though an 8 1/2-point favorite, the Bengals are not without questions of their own. One is a big one. By the time you read this star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase might be signed to a new contract. Or he might not be signed to a new contract. Chase was a training camp hold-in, as opposed to holdout. He showed up for practice, but didn’t practice. Chase has practiced this week, thus giving the impression he will play on Sunday.

Once a staple, running back Joe Mixon is gone, but Zack Moss and Chase Brown are adequate replacements. Wide receiver Tee Higgins did sign his franchise tag contract, but fellow receiver Tyler Boyd is now a Tennessee Titan. Second-year pro Andrei Iosivas slides into that spot. The former Princeton Tiger oozes potential. Rookie Jermaine Burton has great speed, but there are nagging questions about his work habits.

Veteran Trent Brown replaces Jonah Williams at right tackle to join returning starters Orlando Brown, Cordell Volson, Ted Karras and Alex Cappa on the offensive line. Picked up from Miami, tight end Mike Gesicki should fit in nicely. Their job is to keep the quarterback upright.

Losing Burrow to a wrist injury 10 games into last season didn’t help, but the Bengals defense failed to pick up the slack. In fact, Lou Anarumo’s unit was knocked off the ball a step or two in 2023. Houston scored 30 points on Cincinnati, Baltimore scored 34 and Pittsburgh scored 34. The Bengals ranked 31st out of 32 teams in yards allowed per game.

So the Bengals are banking on a refresher. Veteran safety Vonn Bell is back in Cincy after spending last season with New Orleans. He’ll team up with former Ravens safety Geno Stone. The Bengals did lose defensive tackle D.J. Reader to free agency but signed veteran and former Louisville star Sheldon Rankins. And Anarumo is hoping ends Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard remain injury free. Each was nicked up in 2023.

Still, it all comes down to Burrow. Backup Jake Browning, who played for current UK offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan at Washington, did a nice job replacing Burrow last season. He’s not Burrow, however. And while you surely have to rank Patrick Mahomes as the NFL’s best quarterback, Burrow isn’t far behind.

The late-great Bengals scout Frank Smouse once said, “Everybody wants a quarterback who is quick-footed, I want one that’s quick-minded.” That’s Burrow.

As two-time defending champs, Kansas City is the 2024 favorite, as well. No team has won three Super Bowls in a row, however. The Chiefs won’t either. Time for a new king on the block. It says here the Bengals will be rulers of the NFL. If Burrow stays healthy.