Can 2026 Bengals make 2019 LSU-type run? Here’s why Joe Burrow was right
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Zachary Weinberger, ClutchPointsSun, June 21, 2026 at 10:07 PM UTC·4 min readCan 2026 Bengals make 2019 LSU-type run? Here’s why Joe Burrow was right appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
When star Joe Burrow made comparisons between the 2019 LSU team and the current Cincinnati Bengals, there was no doubt about the amount of varying opinions that came from the take. As the Bengals prepare for the 2026 season, here is a look at why there should be stock put into what Burrow is saying.
AdvertisementAdvertisementLooking at the initial comments made earlier this week, Burrow would go into how he is feeling “very similarly” with the vibes of this Cincinnati team compared to the 2019 LSU Tigers team that ended up winning a national championship.
“You go back and watch what I said before the 2019 season at LSU,” Burrow said, according to The Athletic. “I feel very similarly about this team. I feel like there is so much greatness we are going to be able to achieve this year.”
It’s not like Burrow hasn’t been confident in his career before, but even he is adding a ton of pressure to the expectations of the Bengals, which could show an extra certainty in the quality of the team. When it comes to the pressure, Burrow welcomes it:
“I hope so, I hope so,” Burrow said. “I think that’s great. Put pressure on guys. I love it. I thrive in it. We will find out who else does. I know that we have the kind of people that want to be in that spot, I want everybody talking about the Bengals. I want everybody talking about what I am saying in my press conferences.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementLet’s look into some why Burrow’s comments shouldn’t be passed aside:
The Bengals’ offense once again looks explosive
There’s no denying that the Bengals have been hit with a string of bad luck, especially when it comes to injuries, such as even to Burrow, having played in eight games last season. When he’s on the field and healthy, he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the entire NFL, and with dynamic pass-catchers like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins back, plus a dependable running back room, it’s easy to see why the offense could be great.
However, what can’t be said enough is how Cincinnati is having stability when it comes to their offensive line, returning all five starters back in Dalton Risner, Ted Karras, Dylan Fairchild, Orlando Brown Jr., and Amarius Mims. What has been a crutch for the team for the longest, it’s no longer a liability.
“To have all these guys back is a big advantage early in the season,” Burrow said in late May, via the team’s website. “You don’t have young guys trying to fit into the mix and learn the communication on the fly. These guys had a lot of reps last year together, and communication is so key on the offensive line, and to be able to have reps at that is so valuable.”
Have the Bengals improved on their weak defense from last season?
While the Bengals’ offense could put up big numbers, just as Burrow and Chase did together with LSU in 2019, the defense was the one side of the ball that faced many questions coming into the season. After a disastrous 2025, Cincinnati went and added some key pieces like trading for Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants, plus making a presence in free agency with the signing of Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Kyle Dugger, and others.
There is no denying that the Bengals are looking to make a huge presence in 2026, with Burrow excited more than he’s ever been before about the team he’s playing on.
AdvertisementAdvertisement“I am so excited to get started,” Burrow said. “I wish we would ramp this right into training camp so we can continue to improve. Because I feel like there is so much greatness we are going to be able to achieve this year.”
“We’re deep at just about every position on the team,” Burrow continued. “We’ve talked a lot this year about (how) in years past, we wondered who was going to make the team; it was top-heavy. This year, it’s guys that were once at the top level that were on the team for sure; now there’s a lot of competition for those spots at the end of that list. It’s the first year that’s really the case, in my opinion, it’s an exciting place to be where you have too many good players, it’s our job to try to find ways to make this work, build that trust, and build those relationships.”
Cincinnati looks to improve after finishing with a 6-11 record.
Related: 2 underrated Bengals sleepers who could break out in 2026 NFL season
Related: Joe Burrow making LSU title team comps sets stage for Bengals’ Super Bowl urgency
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
