11-07-2015, 12:30 PM
(11-07-2015, 11:43 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: The funny thing is, the 2011 team, fresh off their QB quitting on them was supposed to go 0-16. If you wagered that the Bengals would have made the playoffs in 2011, you did VERY well.
Imagine being a rookie QB, coming to such a team where all of this was laid out in front of you:
Forget sitting for a year or two, you need to start from day 1. OTAs? You won't have them because of the strike. A running game? We haven't really had one of those for a while, except for one really good season by Ced Benson. Oh yeah, you will play in the most physical division in the NFL with two of the three teams being perennial playoff teams.
Despite this, Andy Dalton came in here and led them to the playoffs, going 9-7 in his first season. They didn't look very good against the Texans in that playoff game, but they got some valuable experience. The team goes on to make the playoffs the next three seasons, but the majority of people still don't believe in you. Everyone holds off their appreciation until you will win a playoff game. And that is just fine with him. Here he is, the #2 rated QB in the NFL at 8-0. He hasn't ever said "where are my doubters now", he just quietly goes about leading this team.
They aren't close to being finished, but I am not going to let any fears of a "one-and-done" in the playoffs take away my joy in watching this young, talented team come together to do something special. Houston? You're next. Then it is on to take on the quitter. I can hardly wait.
I love this team.
It's good to see other Bengal fans with this mindset. I feel the same way. Just embrace it and enjoy it as it happens or it will pass you by.
I love every player on this team, every last one. I want THIS specific Bengal team to win the superbowl because each guy is special to me. This team has a special persona and chemistry to it that no other Bengals team has shown me. I hope they can make the most out of what we have right now.
