3 bold predictions for Cincinnati Bengals playoff run

Bo Jackson curse is lifted

Many readers perhaps don’t really know what this means. I’m sure a sizable segment of the fan base has been indoctrinated like my kids and weren’t born during the Bengals golden age of the ’80s.

There is a rich history, believe it or not, pre-1991. The Bengals were a perennial playoff team that came seconds short of winning not one, but TWO Super Bowls in the ’80s. Thanks, Joe Montana for ruining my youth.

With the core of the ’88 Super Bowl team still mostly intact, the Bengals made the 1990-91 playoffs and promptly dusted the Houston Oilers in the first round, at the old Riverfront Stadium. (The Oilers became the Titans, look them up, kids).

A second-round West Coast matchup with the Los Angeles Raiders saw the Bengals fall 20-10. The game featured an injured Boomer Esiason who completed only eight passes and an equally ineffective defense gashed for 140 yards by an aging Marcus Allen.

So what does this have to do with the Bo Jackson curse?

Jackson was a cultural icon, two-sport star, and despite not really being a superstar for the Raiders, was undoubtedly the face of the franchise. When Bengal linebacker Kevin Walker pulled Jackson down from behind on an awkward tackle, Jackson limped off the field never to return due to a career-ending hip injury.

Thus was born the Bo Jackson curse. Like Bo, the Bengals never recovered.

So almost 31 years later, with a total of ZERO playoff wins since, the Bengals are set to come full circle. Saturday, Cincinnati will exorcise those demons with a resounding victory over the Raiders.

The Curse of Bo Jackson will be forever lifted.