Why the general consensus we suck?

[mrschaney]

I just don't see it. We made the playoffs 2 years in a row, and won an extra game to boot this year over the previous season. Everything seems to be going in the right direction. The way I see it, we improved over the preivious season without a threat at #2 receiver and not much of a running game and with a second year qb.
Most good rookie qb's do have a second year drop off. I just dont see Dalton as a flop or someone that will never win the big game. He seems to have more of a bulldog/fighter mentality where he will only improve unlike someone like Romo.
Granted we haven't won a playoff game yet, but with back to back seasons of making the playoffs, the attitude around here seems to be almost more negative when we go 2-14?
Last year, we backed our way into the playoffs, this year, we did what we had to do winning in Pit. and at least earned our way in.

 

[cincygrad]

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I just don't see it. We made the playoffs 2 years in a row, and won an extra game to boot this year over the previous season. Everything seems to be going in the right direction. The way I see it, we improved over the preivious season without a threat at #2 receiver and not much of a running game and with a second year qb.
Most good rookie qb's do have a second year drop off. I just dont see Dalton as a flop or someone that will never win the big game. He seems to have more of a bulldog/fighter mentality where he will only improve unlike someone like Romo.
Granted we haven't won a playoff game yet, but with back to back seasons of making the playoffs, the attitude around here seems to be almost more negative when we go 2-14?
Last year, we backed our way into the playoffs, this year, we did what we had to do winning in Pit. and at least earned our way in.

It may be the general consensus around here, but not all of us are in the same thought process. I agree with you 100%, and feel we are building towards something here. Dalton still needs to prove himself, but he had a year that I hope taught him a lesson, and he can build off it. Success is not given to you because of one decent rookie year, you have to earn it, work at it, struggle at times, but find your way out of it.

He has a lot to prove next year, but he has had his emotional highs and lows, now he has to find that balance inbetween and be more consistant throughout the year.

Not everyone is gloom and doom, even though I realize how hard it is to get beat in another playoff game.

We lost by 6, and was one overthrow away from possibly winning 20-19. It was a horrible game, but it could have always been much worse on the road in the playoffs.

 

[DanBengalfan]

I'm 100% sure we will go to the playoffs and lay an egg again next season.

I'm glad we won't go 2-14
I'm not glad we won't win a playoff game.

There are things the Bengals could do to get to the next level, like, upgrade the running attack, getting Rey Malulaga out of the defense, upgrading the safety position, re-signing key free agents.

Will they do all this? Most signs point to no. We haven't done this in recent years, so I don't expect us to do it right this year, with the exception of retaining key free agents, due to the spending cap rules.

my problem is that we are so close, yet so far away due to the complete ineptitude of the front office.

 

[cincygrad]

It may be the general consensus around here, but not all of us are in the same thought process. I agree with you 100%, and feel we are building towards something here. Dalton still needs to prove himself, but he had a year that I hope taught him a lesson, and he can build off it. Success is not given to you because of one decent rookie year, you have to earn it, work at it, struggle at times, but find your way out of it.

He has a lot to prove next year, but he has had his emotional highs and lows, now he has to find that balance inbetween and be more consistant throughout the year.

Not everyone is gloom and doom, even though I realize how hard it is to get beat in another playoff game.

We lost by 6, and was one overthrow away from possibly winning 20-19. It was a horrible game, but it could have always been much worse on the road in the playoffs.

This should be the Bengals motto.

I like the young talent on this team..... But I'm concerned that with our coaching we don't have the right players to do much more than we did the last two seasons. Dalton has done some good things, but unless we adjust our offense in some meaningful way -- Additions to the scheme, more playmakers, etc. -- I'm not sure we can expect much better.

 

[Skinnyfats]

Keep in mind Peyton Manning lost 3 playoff games before getting his first win. Not saying Dalton is Manning at all just saying. Dalton going to the playoffs his first two seasons is something few QB's do. He still needs a lot of work.

 

[JBUCK66]

if you've been a beng fan as long as I have, you would be pretty happy with the last couple years.

 

[bengaldoug]

if you've been a beng fan as long as I have, you would be pretty happy with the last couple years.

I have been a fan as long as anyone. I started rooting for the Bengals from the moment I heard Paul Brown was coming to Cincy about two years before the first game. I am not as happy as you are. This year's playoffs showed us clearly what must be done to get to the next level. We are not going the right way as long as we don't address our offensive problems. Unless Dalton gets much better next year (not likely) we have already reached our apex, and will only stagnate until this group of players starts to decline.