They may very well be better, but so will the rest of that division & the conference will be better also. Burrow got sacked like 70 times last year. Even with a better OL, he'll get sacked 45+ times. I fully expect him to get injured again.
I'm not so sure Browns get anywhere this year and they played the Bengals well. Steelers will also drop off.
They play NFC South, weakish division, and AFC East - moderate difficulty division. AFC West will be a blood bath, who battles with AFC South as well.
Consensus lock for AFC? (barring injury, etc)
KC
TEN
BALT
BUF
3 other spots up for grabs.
CIN
OAK
LA
MIA
NE
IND
DEN
1 from out of left field.
AFC West is good, but they all tend to choke and they have difficult schedules. East can be good, lots of wild cards though and I can see them only sending one. Lots of confidence in both IND and TEN making it. So really two spots up for grabs for me, I don't think putting Bengals in those two slots is that hot of a take (Division or WC)
I think with their favorable schedule (in comparison) and two division opponents going south gives them the edge. I'm also assuming Watson doesn't play this year, or very little.