ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky has flipped the script on the Cincinnati Bengals, and he's ready to bet on them taking the AFC North crown in 2026.

During a May 8 appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Orlovsky declared the Bengals as his early pick to win the division. "Right now, they'd be my pick to win the division," he said. "It's obviously a huge year for Cincinnati, for Joe Burrow. That's why they made the trade for Dexter Lawrence. You've got a bunch of new starters on defense that just have to pay off for them."

Orlovsky didn't mince words about the stakes. The Bengals are coming off three straight seasons without a playoff appearance. "If they don't go again with what they've invested now into the team and given Joe what is needed and wanted, at least by reports, you could absolutely see it getting very noisy, and him wanting out."

This bold prediction marks a change of heart for Orlovsky. Just weeks earlier, in April, he had fired off a critical tweet about Cincinnati's offensive line. He pointed out that each AFC North rival boasts a top-tier pass rusher—think Myles Garrett in Cleveland, T.J. Watt in Pittsburgh, and Kyle Van Noy in Baltimore—and warned that defensive upgrades alone wouldn't save the Bengals. "The Cincy defensive improvements will be lipstick on a pig if they can't block those guys," he wrote.

That tweet drew a sharp response from former Bengals offensive tackle Willie Anderson. "Boy Dan hates the Bengals!" Anderson shot back. "This is his usual offseason commentary about how the Bengals O-line is not protecting Joe. C'mon Dan! This is not the 2021 O-line. Look what they did for Flacco and when Joe came back. He was barely touched, and they ran the ball solid to good."

Now, with the Bengals loading up on defense and Orlovsky seeing the bigger picture, the AFC North race just got a lot more interesting. For fans eyeing the latest Bengals gear or looking to rep Burrow's squad, this season is shaping up to be one for the ages.