November 4, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker (87) catches a touchdown pass over defending Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Terence Newman (23) at Paul Brown Stadium. Denver won the game 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-US PRESSWIRE

It has finally sunk in. This four game skid has been very difficult to deal with after the season began with such hope and promise. I still am sitting on the couch with chips on my belly and Bud Lite cans scattered throughout the room. I’m staring at the Directv channel that was playing the latest Bengal debacle. Wondering what happened? How could they start 3-1 and then drop four straight?

The optimist in me says that it’s a young team. Andy Dalton’s numbers are better than the four quarterbacks taken ahead of him, and he does not have the running backs that they have. The pessimist in me says that once again the Bengals are following a winning season with a letdown year, where the team is crushed by high expectations. I have to go with option two.

Why can’t this team have back to back winning seasons? Paul Brown was over .500 on 16 of 17 seasons while coaching the Cleveland Browns but when he became owner of the Cincinnati Bengals that streak fell apart. Starting in 1968 the Bengals have had back to back winning seasons THREE TIMES. 1972 -1973, A remarkable stretch from 1975 to 1977 where they had an amazing run of three seasons over .500., and 1981 – 82 (strike season).

Dec 4, 2011; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko (94) during the first half of the game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

You want to talk nastiness? Then these are the right guys. If Demato Peko found a kitten, he would take it home. If James Harrison found one he would eat it. If a girl scout knocked on Geno Atkins door early in the morning selling cookies, he would kindly buy four boxes.Casey Hampton would steal the cookies and then push the Girl Scout down the stairs by her face.

Do you see a pattern? This defense needs to attack and set the tone. They are physically superior to their opponents but you would not be able to tell the last two weeks. This defense is so sweet, they took a player who was so evil he couldn’t even get drafted and have turned him into an altar boy. I’m glad Vontaze isn’t getting personal fouls, but I thought he would bring much needed attitude to this team.

Fans overreact week to week. After the three game winning streak I was certain we were New Orleans bound, and now I’m wondering who they’ll take with the number one pick in the draft. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

The team has a real problem. They want to run the ball, but teams are figuring out they can’t. Green-Ellis is a good tough back, but he is no homerun threat. Hopefully Gruden can figure out a way to get Cedric Peerman’s speed into the game.

They have become one dimensional, and when you couple that with all of the dropped passes it is a losing formula. There is an interesting problem that develops with super-star receivers. Do you throw it to AJ Green no matter how many guys are covering him? Or do you try and hit the open receiver who benefits from the one on one matchup?

Sept 23, 2012; Landover,MD, USA; Cincinnati Redskins head coach Marvin Lewis watches on from the sidelines against the Washington Redskins during the second quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Paul Frederiksen-US PRESSWIRE

Watching my dog get put to sleep when I was 12 years old was sad. Watching the loss to Miami yesterday made that feel like a fond childhood memory. These types of losses are a common occurrence with Marvin Lewis. I think I know what may fix it.

I don’t want Marvin Lewis fired. This isn’t about that. This is about the EVOLUTION of the head coach. With any job you learn, change and adapt as your career moves along. He has been around long enough to learn from past mistakes. The loss to Ryan Tannehill drops the Bengals record vs. rookie quarterbacks to 11-10, the current coach to be measured against is Bill Belichick is 11-3.

They seem to get very conservative when going against a rookie. Mix it up. Rush 1 drop 10 or vice versa. Give Zimmer free range to come up with the wackiest defense ever. Why not have the Grits-Blitz, combine with the 46, mixed with the Tampa-2, sprinkled with some Doomsday along with a little Steel Curtain? If you just play your base defense, I guess that would work out to be successful about half of the time which validates the record. I’m sure if I brought these suggestions to Mike Zimmer he’d punch me in my mouth, and he has that right but he needs to direct that anger at his defense.