Super Bowl Stock Report: Bengals Find the Missing Piece, Chargers Hit Rock Bottom
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Cincinnati looks like a complete unit heading into Week 3, while Los Angeles faces a nightmare scenario after two early losses.
The early-season volatility of the NFL often levels out by Week 2, but for two specific contenders, the results are becoming impossible to ignore. As CBS Sports first reported, the Cincinnati Bengals have positioned themselves as a legitimate Super Bowl threat, while the Los Angeles Chargers are spiraling toward a lost season.
**Opinion: The Bengals' Blueprint for a Title**
For years, the Joe Burrow era in Cincinnati was defined by a high-powered offense hampered by a porous defense. That narrative has been dismantled in the first two weeks of 2026. As reported by CBS Sports, the Bengals have evolved into a complete team, starting the season 2-0.
This transformation is the direct result of aggressive personnel changes. The additions of Bryan Cook, Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, and Dexter Lawrence have paid immediate dividends. The defense forced four turnovers in the opener and recently stifled the Houston Texans, limiting them to 60 rushing yards and zero touchdowns.
Cincinnati is proving they can win in multiple styles, pairing a high-scoring victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a gritty 20-6 win. The offense remains elite; Joe Burrow is healthy and effective, Chase Brown is leading a productive rushing attack, and Ja'Marr Chase continues to dominate, recording two touchdowns against Houston. If Burrow remains healthy, the Bengals finally possess every piece necessary for a championship run.
**Opinion: The Chargers' Descent**
While Cincinnati is ascending, the Los Angeles Chargers are in the basement. CBS Sports notes that the Chargers' Super Bowl odds have more than doubled since their Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The team has suffered two losses by the exact score of 26-14, falling to both the Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders.
The failure is systemic. Reporting from CBS Sports highlights a disastrous pairing between quarterback Justin Herbert and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Simultaneously, the defense has regressed since the departure of Jesse Minter.
With a brutal seven-game stretch approaching—featuring opponents who are all viewed as playoff-caliber or Super Bowl hopefuls—the situation is dire. To salvage the month, Jim Harbaugh's squad must find a way to win on the road against the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills, a task that CBS Sports describes as feeling unachievable.
**Around the League**
Beyond the Bengals and Chargers, CBS Sports points to the New Orleans Saints as a long shot to watch. Led by quarterback Tyler Shough—the NFL's passing leader through two games with 662 yards—the Saints are coming off a win over the Baltimore Ravens. Despite a severe high ankle sprain to their left tackle, the Saints are viewed as strong contenders in the NFC South, especially with the anticipated debut of Jordyn Tyson.
As for the betting landscape, DraftKings odds entering Week 3 place the Rams at +650, the Bills at +750, and the Ravens at +950. The Bengals currently sit at +1700, tied with the Eagles.