It seems hyperbolic to say Andy Dalton and AJ Green saved this franchise. Bengal fans know different. Because of that, it can sometimes feel—awkward, I guess, to criticize Dalton after he pulled the team out of the morass that was the 2010 season.
But it’s time to take that next step. Last year, third place in the AFC North and sneaking into the playoffs through the backdoor. This year, a win Sunday will clinch a playoff berth, second place in the division, and still give Cincinnati an outside shot at the AFC North title.
This is the kind of progression contending teams, and top quarterbacks, need to make. If the Bengals and Dalton can’t beat the Steelers (or Ravens), it will be impossible to ever take them seriously as Super Bowl contenders.
Want more Bengals news? Like Stripe Hype on Facebook, or grab our RSS feed.
I have rooted for the Bengals since I was six years old, which has included dressing up as Ken Anderson for Halloween, shedding real tears at the end of Super Bowl XXIII, and a general depression that lasted throughout most of the 1990s. It's great to see the team finally pointed in the right direction the last few years. Go Bengals!
Guttersnake
All Cincinnati Sports
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Bearcats
Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers
Xavier Musketeers
