With two playoff appearances in the past three years, the Cincinnati Bengals have started erasing their miserable recent track record as an organization. They have a promising young quarterback in Andy Dalton and a franchise-changing receiver in A.J. Green.
Jeremiah: Bounce-back candidates
Which players are in line for a bounce-back season in 2012? Daniel Jeremiah has a few guys in mind, including two QBs. **More ...**
But let's not forget this team still has a long way to go. Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer runs down some eye-opening streaks the Bengals are still suffering through:
- The Bengals are trying to make the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time in 30 years.
- Of the 28 teams that were in the league in 1983, all of them have made back-to-back postseason appearances since then -- except the Bengals.
- Cincinnati still hasn't won a playoff game since the 1990 season. The Bengals have the longest playoff-win drought in the entire NFL.
Do we think they can do it? Not particularly. Cincinnati took care of bad teams last year, but struggled against anyone with a winning record. While we think the Bengalswill be much better in the upcoming decade, don't be surprised if they take a small step back this season. We'd be surprised if they finish ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens.