Why has the Super Bowl hype come and gone?

[WeezyBengal]

I remember two years ago many "experts" were picking the Bengals to not only win the AFC North, but to make the Super Bowl and win it. That team was talented, but arguably not as talented as this years current team. This years team has many of those same players mixed with a lot of younger, more athletic guys.

So, why is the Super Bowl hype not there with this team? Is it a lack of belief that the fan base and media has due to their previous playoff results? Is it a lack of belief that Andy Dalton can actually get this team to the promised land? Do people not believe in the defense as much under Gunther?

What has made people change their opinion on the Bengals from two years ago to this year, especially due to the fact that the Bengals are arguably a better team than they were two years ago?