5 Bold Predictions for the 2012 Cincinnati Bengals

Not much around the NFL was more surprising last season than the Cincinnati Bengals making the playoffs with a rookie quarterback, a first-year offensive coordinator and no preseason.

The question now becomes if the Bengals can reach the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1981 and 1982. Last season proved the pieces are in place. This season the Bengals need to prove the pieces can take over the AFC North long dominated by the Steelers and Ravens.

Here are five ways they can make it happen.

1. Andy Dalton Goes 5-1 in the Division

A rookie making the playoffs in the NFL is no small task. For one to do it without the benefit of a full offseason like Andy Dalton did makes it even more incredible.

There were plenty of flaws, though, as should be expected with any rookie. The Bengals were a mere 2-4 in the division with the only wins coming against Cleveland.

For Dalton to take the next step and beat the big boys in the division he has to play better in the red zone.The Bengals scored touchdowns just 44 percent of the time inside the 20-yard line in 2011, good enough for 25th in the league.

A year under the belt for Jermaine Gresham and A.J. Green should help as well as the addition of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who scored 24 touchdowns the previous two seasons in New England.

2. A.J. Green Becomes the Best

A.J. Green was the best rookie in the NFL last year. Sorry, Cam Newton.

This year he'll become the best receiver in the NFL. Sorry, Calvin Johnson.

Green has the speed and length of an elite wide receiver in the league and caught 65 balls for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns his rookie year.

Just like the year he has under his belt will help Dalton, the year under Dalton's belt will help Green. Dalton heaved some passes last year he had no business throwing but Green found ways to come down with them.

Hinging on Green's success will be the ability for Jermaine Gresham to stretch the field and a solid No. 2 receiver stepping up to help with some of the load.

3. Dre Kirkpatrick Contends for Defensive Rookie of the Year

One of the best defensive backs in college football's best conference on college football's best team needs to, and will, have a rookie-of-the-year type season for the Bengals.

Defensive backs are the most athletic players in the NFL and Kirkpatrick has plenty of athleticism. It remains to be seen how he'll do on an NFL stage or if his wiry frame will hold up.

He might not get off to the fastest of starts, having missed training camp with a knee injury, but the tutelage of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and Pro Bowl corner Leon Hall will help get the most out of one of the Bengals first-round picks. Once he gets his sea legs Kirkpatrick will be a staple in the Bengals defense for years to come.

4. Gresham Has Gronk-Like Season

He's big, athletic and can catch anything thrown his way.

The Bengals tight end and 2010 first-round pick is virtually the same size as the New England tight end who caught 90 passes for over 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns. Unfortunately, in two fewer games, Gresham's numbers aren't yet near Gronk's. Of anyone on the Bengals roster, though, Gresham is primed for a huge year.

The knock on Gresham has never been ability but his mental capacity. Learning the playbook and knowing what to do has never been Gresham's strong suit. Add to that having to learn one playbook his rookie year in 2010 and a new one in 2011 with a different quarterback, and it's not an ideal situation.

Through it all Gresham managed to improve his numbers in 2011 to 56 receptions and six touchdowns. His greatest strength is being able to stretch the field, which could help take pressure off of A.J. Green. Without a clear No. 2  wide receiver the Bengals need Gresham to have a huge year—and he will.

5. Revenge Is Burfict

Not much in life is sweeter than proving doubters wrong, and former Arizona State bad boy Vontaze Burfict has a chance to do just that with the Bengals in 2012.

The linebacker picked off a Tim Tebow pass in the Bengals' first preseason game against the Jets. He picked off Andy Dalton during a mock game. But intercepting a pass, especially one off Tebow, isn't enough to be crowned rookie of the year just yet.

At this point Burfict is just hoping to make the team. It wasn't just his play against the Jets that made the undrafted rookie look like he would make it, but what he's been saying and doing. It's as though he realizes this will be his only shot to make it in the NFL after the negative publicity and poor combine workout left him out of the draft.

And if anyone can get through to him it's defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. The Bengals have a track record with repairing bad images. Take a look at Cedric Benson and Adam Jones. They hope to do it again with Burfict.