06-20-2022, 09:27 PM
(06-20-2022, 02:39 AM)J24 Wrote: Can one of the old timers explain to me how that team didn't win multiple Superbowls?
Defense-Mike Reid was a dominate DT, Bill Bergey was a Top LB, Casanova, Riley, and Parrish were all HOF caliber players in the secondary. That defense alone should have brought at least one title to Cincinnati.
On offense Ken Andrerson HOF Caliber QB, Isaac Curtis HOF caliber WR, Charlie Joyner HOF WR!
Coaching Staff Paul Brown and Bill Walsh.
Seriously How in the blue Hell did that team not win Multiple Championships.
One thing that is often overlooked is the playoff structure was significantly different. Only one wild card. There were 3 great teams in the AFC: Miami, Oakland, and Pittsburgh. Not much room to make the playoffs and have a chance. Plus not as many chances for the 'favorite' to get upset and give someone else a chance. Under expanded WC rules, Bengals would have made post-season one or two more times at least. If they made playoffs half of the 70s you would think they were pretty good, right?
Also, early in decade Ken Anderson was not the man yet. Virgil Carter was QB IIRC. So, team was at a little disadvantage there, too. Trumpy always said if Greg Cook didn't get hurt they would have won multiple titles. Might be hyperbole, but QB matters a lot. That might have been all they needed to get over the hump.
But OP has a good point. The early Bengals were much better than people remember because of no post-season success. The zero Super Bowl wins and lost decade plus really kills the franchise in historical measures. IMHO a good decade with Joe Burrow permanently changes all that. I just I hope I live to see it.
