(02-14-2022, 01:00 PM)Johnny Cupcakes Wrote: This team had a second year QB coming off of an injury that would permanently disable most of the people on this forum, coming back in 9 months to lead a team of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year players and a cobbled together defense all the way to the Super Bowl, where they led well into the 4th quarter against a team with superstars everywhere.

They have a very large amount of cap space, more than any other team in  league, that they can go out and spend to fill their holes (teehee). They’ll have enough space to bring back most of the players they should, while still being able to spend enough to start getting the offensive line to a respectable place.

No one expected this yet. A super bowl loss (although painful) is not the end of what is being built here. This team will build its weaknesses up, and they will be perennial Super Bowl contenders, and for the first time in my life, I can say that I’ll be very surprised if they don’t win one soon.

I’ve seen a lot of negative takes on this team in the last 12 hours, and I get it…it definitely stings. But some perspective is terribly needed when reflecting on what’s going on here. “There’s always next year” is no longer said as a joke. They’ll be back, stronger and better. And hopefully, with a bit of luck on the health and draft/FA fronts, be back in the Super Bowl.

(02-14-2022, 01:13 PM)Nately120 Wrote: Part of me knows this team will be a force for years to come, and I expect them to win it all next year.  With that being said, I also realize that unless you are Tom Brady you can't count on being in the SB more than once or twice in your entire career (and even he had a 10 year drought which would have stopped most mortal QBs right there).

It took us a long time, but we finally capitalized on the parity the NFL has in place to make sure a team like the Bengals can make it to the SB with a few good drafts and some key FA pickups.  Now we have to stay sharp because other teams are gunning to take our place as the new emerging force.

(02-14-2022, 01:19 PM)Joelist Wrote: That is what I was referring to - people here are WAY too blase about making it back to the Super Bowl. Who would have guessed Dan Marino when they got there in his second season would never return? The odds do not favor teams making repeat Super Bowl trips. THIS WAS THEIR CHANCE and they blew it. Also we know how the Bengals roll - I have sketchy confidence the front office will do what is needed because the need position are not Mike Brown values ones. 

(02-14-2022, 01:19 PM)Joelist Wrote: That is what I was referring to - people here are WAY too blase about making it back to the Super Bowl. Who would have guessed Dan Marino when they got there in his second season would never return? The odds do not favor teams making repeat Super Bowl trips. THIS WAS THEIR CHANCE and they blew it. Also we know how the Bengals roll - I have sketchy confidence the front office will do what is needed because the need position are not Mike Brown values ones. 

(02-14-2022, 01:19 PM)Joelist Wrote: That is what I was referring to - people here are WAY too blase about making it back to the Super Bowl. Who would have guessed Dan Marino when they got there in his second season would never return? The odds do not favor teams making repeat Super Bowl trips. THIS WAS THEIR CHANCE and they blew it. Also we know how the Bengals roll - I have sketchy confidence the front office will do what is needed because the need position are not Mike Brown values ones. 

(02-14-2022, 02:12 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Actually from what I heard on the news there may not be a "next year". Apparently society is going to collapse and we are all going to be political prisoners.

(02-14-2022, 02:12 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Actually from what I heard on the news there may not be a "next year". Apparently society is going to collapse and we are all going to be political prisoners.

(02-14-2022, 01:36 PM)C0de_M0nkey Wrote: Joe Burrow made the Super Bowl in his first full season starting with a horrible offensive line. There’s no doubt that we’ll be back multiple times over the next decade. I say that because I don’t even think the line is the number one reason for the loss. I think a more experienced Joe Burrow gets the ball out faster and wins the game in spite of the line. I’m not blaming Joe Burrow, I’m just saying that he’s unlike any quarterback the NFL has ever seen. He almost overcame the bad blocking and won the game last night. So when the offensive line does get fixed, there’s zero doubt that we’ll be back. In fact I predict a Super Bowl win next year if the offensive line is at least average.