11-12-2021, 02:26 AM
(11-12-2021, 12:23 AM)fredtoast Wrote: So who was a member here in 2012?
After shocking the world by making the playoffs in 2011 we were rewarded with opening the season on Monday night football AT HOME. Unfortunately we got curb stomped by the Ravens 44-13 and there was lots of talk of "overrated" and "fluke". Reminders that the 2011 team had finished 9-8 and our only win against a winning team was the very average 9-7 Titans.
We won our next three games, but none of those opponents had won more than 5 games in 2011. We were all very proud of 3-1, but a lot of people still had a lot of doubts.
We then lost 3 straight to the 1-3 Dolphins, the 0-5 Browns, and the 2-3 Steelers.
We were really struggling at 3-4 but at least we had a bye week to get everything straightened out.
After the bye we lost our third straight HOME game to drop to 3-5. We had also won only 16 of our last 42 games. Only 3 AFC teams had fewer wins than us, and 4 of our remaining opponents were at .500 or better including the 6-2 Ravens, the 6-3 Giants, a road game against the 5-3 Steelers, and a 2000 mile road trip to the 4-4 Chargers.. Pretty much everyone was throwing in the towel.
But there was one guy who predicted we would make the playoffs. For the life of me I can not remember who it was, but you can imagined how he was abused for saying that.
Not only do we win all of those games against teams that were .500 or better, but we went 7-1 and make the playoffs. Our defense which had been 25th in scoring and 21st in yards over the first half of the season allowed the second fewest points and 3rd fewest yards over the last 8 weeks of the season. Our offense also improved from 15th in scoring to 9th.
Anyone remember who that was who said we would make the playoffs when we were 3-5?
Well, I know I said it.
The Bengals had injuries to their Centers very early. For the most part it was a good O Line. Bengals had got a Center back and was doing good. They paid good money for a top name free agent Center unsigned also. Bengals had a good Defense, Dalton, Green. maybe Jones and Sanu, or maybe they came later. I know we had more than just AJ Green.
So I saw some possible wins ahead that could get Bengals from 3-5 to 6-5 and I said Do Not Give Up On This Season Just Yet. Of course THE BIG GAME was beating Steelers in Pittsburgh right before Christmas Day. That put Bengals in and knocked Steelers out. Hall and Nelson had BIG DAY and so did DALTON to GREEN.
I did see that, we had all those preseason injuries to Centers but Bengals adjusted and added a Free Agent they paid good money to add. The Center position started getting better. The schedule was laid out for Bengals to go from 3-5 to 6-5. So I know I was on the site saying not to give up on Bengals just yet. Of course many said I was crazy because Bengals were 3-5, but The Bengals Center injuries to The O Line were getting better each week. The Bye week gave a chance to get players healthy.
Injuries in Preseason put a hurt on all our Centers, so injuries plagued the start of season, but Bengals addressed those and were getting healthy and tough.
I don't know who else said it in 2012, but I made a big post on this very subject at 3-5 and how going to 6-5 was very possible, so don't quit this team just yet.
I don't think it's a Homer Award thing. I saw the Bengals had preseason injuries and lost all their Centers to start the season, but The Bengals at 3-5 were getting real Healthy and had 3 games coming up that I thought they could win to climb to 6-5. Granted, the end of the schedule was tough, but I said Bengals could at least be back in the Play-Off Hunt. I remember that 2012 Season because most people had gave up on them, but I hadn't.
Were we not still on The Mothership Site on Bengals.com where Negativity reigned supreme. After a Bengals win, no posts. After a Bengals loss, everybody came on as if they bought the 1001 Insult Joke Book. Most of those people were not Bengals Fans, a lot of Trolls. This site is far better with real Fans.
1968 Bengal Fan
