Despite a poor start salvaged by two consecutive wins against Cleveland and Buffalo, the Cincinnati Bengals can still make a run and get to the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven years. Their defense has played a big role so far, and they’ll have to keep playing well the rest of the way. Darqueze Dennard, a former number one pick that failed to crack the starting unit until his fourth season in the NFL, has been one of its biggest surprises in 2017.
The Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2013 didn’t play much as a rookie, as it is customary in Cincinnati, but he didn’t see the field much either the next two years.