Why has the Super Bowl hype come and gone?

[*Nately120*]

In a way I feel like the Bengals making the playoff 4 times in a row and failing to capitalize almost reduces their perceived efficacy. You have teams like the Steelers, Giants, Ravens, etc. that make the playoffs on a semi-regular basis and regardless of their records the analysts are all like "Wooooh these guys can go on a tear" where the Bengals are the opposite.

It's pretty wacky to think the Bengals have almost become a lock for the playoffs but also a lock to lose in the first round. Something has to give eventually, though. Either way, it's hard to begrudge either viewpoint that they'll start winning in the playoffs, or stop getting in.