Let’s give credit where it is due

[*pally*]

The Cincinnati Bengals lost to the better team. The Rams were a favorite to win the Super Bowl from day 1. Yesterday proved why. They pulled out the game winning plays, on both sides of the ball, when they had to. The Bengals had to play their absolute best to win and they didn’t. Houdini just could not pull off another amazing escape. We can whine and act like the Chiefs fans did when their team lost under amazingly similar circumstances, or we can simply acknowledge the fact that the Rams were the better team on Sunday.

It hurts. We had an oh so close shot to culminate this amazing miracle season with a championship. And we didn’t get our fairy tale ending that we so deserved.

This team was flawed. Every single one of us knew that going into the season. They performed all season despite that. We also knew that this team had a lot to rebuild in the last 3 years. They have made tremendous progress. Unlike the last many years, though,they will go into the off season with focus ONLY on a single position group instead of every position group to fix.

We Bengals fans aren’t used to genuine hope and expectations for our team. Even when we say we do, the voices in our heads are screaming “yeah but”. But that is exactly what we have going into next season. It is a strange and scary emotion. The Bengals will be a top 5 team going into next year. It will be tough but they can handle it.

try not to forget the excitement and joy we have felt this season. It is that emotion that sustains us as fans.

and try not to dwell on the bitter loss…the better team won. Congratulations to the Los Angeles Rams.