Loss that hurt the most in Bengal history

[Fan_in_Kettering]

To my mind, the most significant losses in Cincinnati history took place in the final weeks of the 2003 regular season. To make the playoffs, the Bengals had to beat the St. Louis Rams or the Cleveland Browns -- and the team choked both games away. The game against the Browns was especially painful because it took place at Paul Brown Stadium and the Bengals weren't even close. It was the first time I doubted Marvin Lewis' ability to close a deal when a game is on the line. I believe these experiences led to the Bengals choking away playoff opportunities and making them scared in actual playoff games.