(07-20-2022, 10:02 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: I think it's important that we define what the "standard" is for this team heading into the season. What are the expectations, the goals, and the assumptions?

If you would have asked me this question last year at this time, my answer would have been completely different from what it is now. I would have said I would have been "thrilled" with simply a winning record.

Well, times have changed, obviously. I think many of us would be disappointed with a winning record and missing the playoffs at the end of the 2022 season.

I think this is also important when it comes to evaluating coaching performances. I know it sounds crazy, but the jury is still out on ZT in my opinion. I need to see sustained success and growth from year to year.

For me, the realistic expectation/goal is to win the AFC North and AT LEAST win a playoff game. If that happens, I'd call this season a success. If this happens, I think this team continues to trend in the right direction - especially as our young guys continue to gain experience and hit their primes.

And this is me being realistic. I'm not going to sit here and say "Super Bowl or bust!" because I know just how hard it is to make that happen. I also know things change from year to year like schedule difficulty and teams around our team improve. The AFC is much more difficult this year than it was last year.

So, what do you think the expectations and goals are heading into 2022? Division Title? Playoff win? AFC Championship? Or do you just simply "want some butts!" if we don't make the Super Bowl again?

(07-20-2022, 10:08 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: Pending any big injury, I think AFCCG should be the standard.  That said, a season like the bills had last year, losing in a tight divisional round game, would qualify.  

I guess It would be at least a competitive divisional Round game (get the 1 seed or win a WC).  The afc is loaded, so nothing is a given.

(07-20-2022, 10:14 AM)wcu Wrote: Last year, I said I'd be happy with playing meaningful games in December, and boy did we ever!

This year, I'd be completely happy with even a hard fought, well earned wild card birth and then getting into the playoffs and perhaps knocking someone off.  I don't want to expect or accept decline, but the success we had last season just has so many uncontrollable variables, that its not something I'm going into the season expecting.  I certainly think we CAN, but I'm not going to judge this season on if we can match or exceed last season's success.  We've got an elite core for years to come, and I have no doubt that the dominance will be on display at some point in the next couple of years.

(07-20-2022, 10:14 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: I thought about that, but I think the difficulty of the AFC this year changes that for me. The winner of the division this year could end up facing a team like the Chiefs, Broncos, Ravens, or Chargers in the first round. That's tough. 

(07-20-2022, 10:22 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: It is tough, but this team came back against the chiefs twice… and was 1 play away from a SB birth.  I understand history and how hard it is for a SB losing team to make it back, but this team is just so young… that I could see it being different.  

A finish like the titans would leave me disappointed.  A season like the bills would leave me disappointed as well, but with high expectations for next year.  Considering The difference between Tannehill and Allen, I don’t think we end the season like The titans.

(07-20-2022, 10:44 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Absolute minimum anyone should have is making the playoffs.
My personal standard is at least getting to the Divisional Round (Rd 2) of the playoffs.
Which would obviously mean either a playoff win or being top seed in the AFC.
I'm not going to go as far and say it has to be AFCCG appearance, as that can heavily depend on which team the Bengals could play in the Divisional Round.

(07-20-2022, 10:44 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Absolute minimum anyone should have is making the playoffs.
My personal standard is at least getting to the Divisional Round (Rd 2) of the playoffs.
Which would obviously mean either a playoff win or being top seed in the AFC.
I'm not going to go as far and say it has to be AFCCG appearance, as that can heavily depend on which team the Bengals could play in the Divisional Round.

(07-20-2022, 10:44 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Absolute minimum anyone should have is making the playoffs.
My personal standard is at least getting to the Divisional Round (Rd 2) of the playoffs.
Which would obviously mean either a playoff win or being top seed in the AFC.
I'm not going to go as far and say it has to be AFCCG appearance, as that can heavily depend on which team the Bengals could play in the Divisional Round.

(07-20-2022, 10:23 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: I don't think anyone thought the Titans were going to damage in the playoffs (even their fans). Their best player was also a shell of himself in the game (Henery). It's absolutely beyond me how they ended up with the 1 seed last year. I guess beating up on a weak AFC South will get you there.

(07-20-2022, 10:44 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Absolute minimum anyone should have is making the playoffs.
My personal standard is at least getting to the Divisional Round (Rd 2) of the playoffs.
Which would obviously mean either a playoff win or being top seed in the AFC.
I'm not going to go as far and say it has to be AFCCG appearance, as that can heavily depend on which team the Bengals could play in the Divisional Round.

(07-20-2022, 10:13 AM)Mer Wrote: Tbh, anything short of a SB victory this year will be a disappointment. If we made it last year with a lesser roster, we should be there again with a better roster. Unlike Most SB teams ours didn't get picked apart in FA or guys getting old and retiring. We're in our prime now. Anything short of a SB victory will stink.

If Cincinnati wants to be the next great dynasty SB victories should be the standard. I get it that things happen during the season but every player's standard should be a SB victory every season, especially with the stacked roster we have currently.

(07-20-2022, 10:14 AM)wcu Wrote: Last year, I said I'd be happy with playing meaningful games in December, and boy did we ever!

This year, I'd be completely happy with even a hard fought, well earned wild card birth and then getting into the playoffs and perhaps knocking someone off. I don't want to expect or accept decline, but the success we had last season just has so many uncontrollable variables, that its not something I'm going into the season expecting. I certainly think we CAN, but I'm not going to judge this season on if we can match or exceed last season's success. We've got an elite core for years to come, and I have no doubt that the dominance will be on display at some point in the next couple of years.