04-25-2017, 07:09 PM
(04-25-2017, 04:03 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: What I would say is that in Era 2 the Bengals have been more competitive with the rest of the NFL. In Era 1 they were absolutely horrible.
I'd say that now we're generally one of the 12-14-16 best teams in the league on a yearly basis. We're just not one of the best 6-8 teams.
That leap from being the 12-14th best team to being the 4th best team is just as steep as the leap we made from the 90's to the 2000's.
In the playoffs, the cream rises to the top. The Bengals just don't have the mental toughness to persevere. Whether it's coaching. Or bringing in players who are too volatile. Or mentally weak players. Or players who aren't physical. Or having a coaching staff that can't make adjustments or gameplan. Or signing that 1 free agent to put the team over the top.
That's been the hallmark of our primetime and playoff games.
I would agree with you entirely if it were not for the 2015 team which we are only 1 year removed from.
The 2015 team starts 8 and 0, gets to 1st in the Power rankings and has a leading NFL MVP candidate at the time at QB in Andy Dalton.
The loss of Dalton was a MAJOR loss and everyone knew it at the time.
Even without Dalton, the 2015 team had the eventual Super Bowl winning team the Broncos on the ropes in overtime in Denver which could have resulted in completely different Playoff seedings had we won with Dalton.
We had Big Ben and the Steelers by the Nads in the Playoff game where the Steelers Defense was able to use a completely different Strategy against McCarron than they would have used against an Experienced QB like Dalton who was playing at an MVP caliber level that season.
I would have liked to have seen the 2015 team have a chance at a Playoff run with a healthy Dalton.
Playing at an MVP caliber level as he was. Maybe they still blow it, maybe not. I can see the maybe not side as being possible.
There is more than a Glimmer of Hope here for these players and the Front Office.
More hope than we have had in 26 years.
In fact, we are only 1 year removed from a 2015 team that did something that only a small number of teams have done in NFL History.
Starting a season 8 and 0.
Historic was the word used for that start by NFL experts and others.
I see the Monkey on the Front Office's back and they deserve a certain amount of criticism on a year by year team by team basis. Lots of bad years, granted, lots of criticism deserved.
I am also Fair minded enough to view what they did create in 2015 and see that something special was happening before Dalton went down.
Like it or not, you are stuck with this Front Office for a while longer.
It can be a Gloom and Doom view or a Fair Minded view that has that little bit of Hope that they can regain 2015 form and stay healthy for a run.
2015 at the very least, showed that they are not completely incompetent as suggested.
In fact, 2015 was the MOST competence they have shown to date and maybe they have learned a few things after all.
Then, maybe not.
We have little choice but to wait and see what the current Bengals Front Office does with the time they have left.
Either wait and see or check out to follow something else.
Why hang on every move made by a Front Office that you have Zero faith in ?
You could totally take the High road by checking out until a New Owner and Coach arrives.
Make a statement and be the smartest guy in the room. Or you can watch Thursday night.
I'm hoping for a return to 2015 form and maybe a run. I may see a train wreck instead.
I'll be watching Thursday and I expect you will too. Edge of our seats to see what the Front Office does.
Maybe we are both crazy for doing it but for different reasons.
