07-29-2022, 02:50 PM
Here is what it all boils down to. We have all seen average teams get on a hot streak. And most of us require seeing longer-term, more consistent success before acknowledging that the team is "good" instead of "average but on a hot streak". Just go back and look at how many people picked the '08 or '12 Giants to return to the Super Bowl after WINNING it the year before.
13 games into the '21 season the Bengals were 7-6 and struggling to stay in the playoff race. We managed 6 more wins, but 3 of them were on the last play of the game. One of them required a 3rd-and-25 conversion. And the Broncos fumbled the ball away inside out 10 yard line in a 5 point loss. When Pats, Steelers, Packers or any other consistent contender wins like that it is because "They know how to win close games". When a team that has not had a winning record in 5 years wins like that it is "luck". That is just how perception works. We do the same thing to the other 31 teams.
13 games into the '21 season the Bengals were 7-6 and struggling to stay in the playoff race. We managed 6 more wins, but 3 of them were on the last play of the game. One of them required a 3rd-and-25 conversion. And the Broncos fumbled the ball away inside out 10 yard line in a 5 point loss. When Pats, Steelers, Packers or any other consistent contender wins like that it is because "They know how to win close games". When a team that has not had a winning record in 5 years wins like that it is "luck". That is just how perception works. We do the same thing to the other 31 teams.
