Do the Cincinnati Bengals Finally Have an Offensive Juggernaut?

According to Pro Football Reference, the Cincinnati Bengals offense hasn't cracked the top 10 in either points scored or total yardage since 2007—and yet, in the following year, they ranked dead last in both categories.

That kind of offensive inconsistency has helped the Bengals along to being one of the most up-and-down franchises of the 21st century NFL, but the hope is that now the team has found stability in a formula that works.

That formula, broken down to its most simplest elements, is quarterback Andy Dalton throwing passes to wide receiver A.J. Green.

But really, the Bengals offense is more complicated than those two playmakers—and even more dynamic as well, especially now that free agency has allowed the Bengals to make a key addition in running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Clearly, the Bengals needed to upgrade at running back this offseason, but there's no indication they're set at the position just yet.

Free agent Cedric Benson's time with the team is up, his spot taken by the incoming Green-Ellis, who rushed for 11 touchdowns last season as a New England Patriot (Benson had six rushing touchdowns in 2011). But Green-Ellis will be sharing time with fellow rusher Bernard Scott and likely a third running back the team will pick up in the draft, one with high-caliber speed.

A multifaceted running attack is something the Bengals lacked last season, raising the pressure on Dalton significantly in his rookie year. Dalton ultimately handled the situation extremely well, finishing the season as the No. 12 quarterback in the league, according to Football Outsiders.

This season should prove even more successful for Dalton now that the running back situation is primed to be far better than it was last year. Not only should Cincinnati be able to run the ball better with its committee of backs, Green-Ellis (and potentially the running back they draft) could also be a reliable receiving target for Dalton.

It's true Green-Ellis didn't catch many passes last year (just nine, for 159 yards), but much of that can be attributed to the Patriots offense of which he was a part, which was rife with playmaking receivers and tight ends that rendered his contributions to the passing game marginal at best.

Chances are that Green-Ellis will see more passes thrown his way this season, but the Bengals won't need to lean on him the way the Baltimore Ravens had to with Ray Rice last year. Dalton's already got the makings of being one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, and it doesn't hurt that he's got a receiver like Green-Ellis as his primary target.

However, the Bengals will need to add another receiver via the draft who can start alongside Green-Ellis, considering they've lost Andre Caldwell to the Denver Broncos and Jerome Simpson isn't expected back.

Luckily, the Bengals have two first-round draft picks this year and it's likely they'll use one of them on a receiver. Depending on who they add—and how well he takes to the offense—the Bengals could field the rare combination of an offense that is both very young and very effective.

All in all, Cincy isn't in bad shape as far as their offense is concerned. Judging by what they accomplished last season, and what they should look like once next month's draft is over, they could easily end up with not just the top offense in the AFC North, but one of the best in the entire league.

No, the Bengals didn't crack the top half in the league as far as total yardage or scoring was concerned, but they certainly didn't regress either, despite all of the changes, which is a great sign that the second year of the Dalton reign under center should outshine the first.

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