Cincinnati Bengals: Time To Move On

The Bengals are trying to let go of the past.

It’s time to move on. That’s the ideology and new mantra, of the Cincinnati Bengals. Since the fiasco of January 9, Bengals players and coaches have vowed to leave the past behind. The Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers is now a blip on the radar screen of yesteryear. At least that is what’s being said. It takes time for wounds to heal. The loss to Pittsburgh was a deep gash.

Making an effort to change is not easy. Sure. It’s a simple task, to make the promise, but the actual nuts and bolts part can be daunting. After the game, social media was ablaze with hoe the Bengals had a meltdown in primetime. There were calls for Marvin Lewis‘s head on a platter. Actually, there were just outcries for his firing. The head on a platter is for dramatic flair.

Bengals faithful became the brunt of jokes and players, once again, had to endure the stigma of losing a playoff game. The cycle was again rearing its fangs. Yet there was a learning process that took place. Running back Giovani Bernard is one of the many Bengals with a new outlook for the season.

When asked about the Pittsburgh battle, Bernard was struck with a case of convenient amnesia. Paul Daugherty, of The Cincinnati Enquirer, politely nudged the speedy back about the game.

Nothing registered. It’s a complete blank. That’s what Bengals backers should strive for. As painful as the memory of the game has grown, there’s a time to forget and move on. The sting will truly never leave. Everyone deals with anger and disappointment in their own way. But being an athlete, the margin for remembrance is slim.

Pro Bowl tackle Andrew Whitworth understands that thin line. Per Cincy Jungle, he explained the bitter taste that remained. He knows, in order to perform, he has to forget.

"“That’s what people outside the building are going to be talking about for a long time. The only way I’m as good as I can be Week 1 against the Jets is if I eliminate that from my mind. It kind of plays in your mind, what you could have done better. But you could say that after every game. That just comes with being an athlete.” More from Stripe Hype6 Bengals whose stock significantly rose in preseason game vs Cardinals7 winners and 7 losers from Bengals preseason opener vs. CardinalsJackson Carman winning LG job isn’t a given after Bengals preseason openerHow to watch the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022Denzel Ward wants to flex on Bengals WRs in 2022"

Some would argue that accepting losses is just part of the Bengals franchise. That’s not a true assessment. Adam Jones is adamant about a change being made. He wears his passion well.

“We have a good team,” Jones said. “We could be way better than last year if we just stay healthy and do the little things.”

Do the little things? That could easily be a reference to forgetting the past…and moving on.