Cincinnati Bengals fans have weathered plenty of heartbreak, but a new ESPN assessment brings a surprisingly hopeful note to the Queen City. The latest Sports Misery Index, which gauges fan dismay across all sports, ranks the Bengals as 12th-least miserable.
The Bengals earn a 75 out of 100 on the misery scale, a rating described as “flailing” rather than rock bottom. The takeaway from ESPN: there’s still a path to improvement in the coming years, and fans aren’t resigned to perpetual despair.
By comparison, a few teams sit at the top of the misery ladder as of the new edition: only three franchises—Philadelphia, Kansas City, and New England—register a misery score of zero, reflecting their recent sustained success and trophy moments. Other teams near or just behind Cincinnati include the Los Angeles Rams (28), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (43), Seattle Seahawks (49), Denver Broncos (52), San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens (54 each), Green Bay Packers (55), and the New York Giants (73).
On the opposite end, the franchise worst sums are led by the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets at 97, with the Cleveland Browns at 96, and the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders at 94. Those figures illustrate the breadth of fan frustration across the league, even as the Bengals sit in a more optimistic quadrant.
Back to Cincinnati’s current moment: the presence of Joe Burrow, who emerged as the face of the franchise when he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2020, has transformed the team’s trajectory. Burrow’s rise helped propel the Bengals to The Big Game as a second-year signal-caller, and while playoff appearances have been inconsistent in the years since, the outlook remains bright.
A potent passing attack anchors that optimism. Burrow is supported by Ja’Marr Chase, a standout receiver whose production with the Bengals has been elite, and Tee Higgins, one of the league’s most dynamic No. 2 targets. With Burrow in his prime and a high-powered receiving corps around him, many analysts expect the Bengals to continue climbing in the coming seasons.
ESPN’s Sports Misery Index paints a picture of a fanbase buoyed by potential rather than mired in chronic disappointment. In Cincinnati, the heartbeat is strong: an offense capable of electric plays, a quarterback entering prime years, and a core of receivers who can carry the load. If the regular season brings health, cohesion, and continued offensive success, Bengals fans could see their misery drop even further in the next edition.
What to watch next season: Burrow’s health and continuity in the passing game, the protection and development of the offensive line, and how the offense evolves around a fast, high-ceiling receiving corps. For now, the sentiment around Cincinnati is one of cautious optimism, with a window of opportunity that many teams would envy.
Summary: The Bengals sit in a favorable slice of ESPN’s Misery Index—far from rock bottom and tied to a core group that has the potential to elevate the franchise into a longer run of contention. As Burrow and his receivers continue to mature, Cincinnati remains a team to watch with growing anticipation rather than dread.