"And that's a good thing"

[Shake n Blake]

(06-21-2015, 02:24 AM)Shady Wrote: Yeah, you captured it better than I did. Maybe it really is a sense of apathy bordering on a sad sense of resignation to losing in the playoffs. It's hard to sustain the enthusiasm and joyful anticipation of another season after four straight one-and-dones. We've got a successful (winning) team, but they need to find a way to become a great team.

I feel like (most) fans get their joy out of watching a team progress. Whether that's from watching a 3-13 team turn it around and finish 8-8, or watching a team get over the playoff hump, it's all the same. As long as their team shows progress towards the ultimate goal, people are happy.

Most Bengals fans I know seemed happier in 2003 than they did last year. In 2003 we finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Why would people be happier with that? Because it was major progress from the previous 2-14 record. The 10 wins and swift playoff exit last year was definitely not progress. It just appears that they've peaked as a "good" team that is incapable of taking the step towards greatness.

With winning, expectations are raised (for most...not some, apparently). This team has reached a point where anything other than a playoff win(s) has to be viewed as a disappointment. Marvin and co have done a good job in raising the standards, but they've reached a point where more should be expected of them. Particularly in postseason play. 

(06-21-2015, 02:56 PM)OSUfan Wrote: I guess I sort of feel sorry for you guys. Not excited about a team that has made the playoffs 4 straight seasons? Cue.....we lost in the first round. Well one thing is for certain.............if you do not make the playoffs then you certainly have no chance to advance....

You say this as if it's unreasonable to be upset with this. It's really not. 99% of the fan base is pretty jaded about the constant playoff losses and the 24 year streak. If you're in the 1% that isn't upset about it, maybe you're the one who is unreasonable? I agree that you can't win if you don't make it (seems pretty obvious), but most fans don't have much faith left that they can ever win even if they do keep making the dance.

Can you blame them? The Bengals have one of the most embarrassing streaks in NFL history (24 years without a playoff win). Marvin has set records for playoff futility by a HC. Dalton's 0-4 record is among the worst ever by a starting QB. So again, is it really unreasonable to have doubts or to be jaded about our chances? The facts say no.