Nick Wright Retracted Negative Bengals Prediction
The First Things First co-host expressed a change of heart following the team's strong start to the season.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Football
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FS1 personality Nick Wright has reversed his earlier bearish outlook on the Cincinnati Bengals. The television analyst announced he is now buying stock in the team after previously predicting they would win fewer than 8.5 games.
Why it matters
The change in perspective from a vocal critic reflects the impact of the team's recent on-field success on national media sentiment. Wright cited the club's early performance as the primary reason for his pivot.
The Cincinnati Bengals have opened the 2026 campaign with an undefeated 2-0 record. This performance comes after projections set the team's season win total at 8.5.
The players
Nick Wright
He is a prominent sports television personality and co-host of the show First Things First on FS1.
Cincinnati Bengals
This is a professional American football team based in Cincinnati that competes in the NFL.
The details
On the show First Things First, Nick Wright acknowledged his previous skepticism, which included calling the team not a good squad earlier this year. His new stance follows a reversal from his earlier critiques, which had questioned the attention given to the franchise.
Timeline
In January 2023, the Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
In February 2026, Nick Wright stated the Bengals were not a good team.
During June 2026, Wright expressed surprise at the attention given to the team.
The Bengals achieved a 2-0 start to the 2026 season in September 2026.
Season Trajectory
This public vote of confidence from a major media figure indicates a potential shift in the narrative surrounding the team's playoff ceiling for the current season. It contrasts sharply with the skepticism that followed the team's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2023 AFC Championship game.
The team's current undefeated status provides a crucial early-season boost that defies pre-season projections of fewer than 8.5 wins. This momentum currently improves the team's standing in the AFC playoff race.
The takeaway
Media narratives surrounding professional sports teams often fluctuate rapidly based on early-season performance metrics. Readers should note that preseason win-total projections are frequently challenged by real-time results in the first month of play.
Further reading
For more on the latest team updates, visit our Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cincinnati.
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