In the transitory world of the NFL, the Bengals stand out like someone not standing for the National Anthem.
Cincinnati has had the same general manager calling the shots for the past 25 years. Of course, the GM - Paul Brown - is also the owner, so it’s not likely he’ll get fired anytime soon (Brown was reportedly considering axing himself during the 14 straight years that the franchise missed the postseason during his stewardship, but he couldn’t stomach the idea of actually paying someone else to do the job).
This is Marvin Lewis’s 14th season as head coach. Only one current NFL HC has been with his team longer - some guy named Belichick. And they’ve had those stupid stripes on their helmets since 1981. In their defense, they made the Super Bowl that year. If you won it all, you’d be willing to look like an idiot for eternity too.
And the "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" approach has surely worked -- in the regular season. The Bengals have amassed a gaudy 52-27-1 record over the past five seasons, earning a postseason spot each time. It’s in the playoffs, though, that the stripes hit the fan.
Cincinnati hasn’t won a playoff game in more than 25 years. Quite a while, huh. Get this -- the week after its last postseason W, the Raiders’ Bo Jackson ran all over the Bengals, until he suffered a career-ending hip injury in the same game. For those of you too young to remember Bo, just know that he was the size of a freight train and moved as fast as a high-speed Internet connection.
When the Bengals come to MetLife Stadium to play the Jets on Sunday, they bring along some impressive credentials. They won the AFC North in 2015 with a 12-4 mark, while excelling on both sides of the ball (seventh in the league in points scored, second in points allowed). Eighteen starters from that crew return. If it ain’t broke ...
But they also bring some awfully heavy baggage -- the kind that comes with year after year ending on a sour note. Last season was no exception, as Cincy literally fumbled away victory in the final minutes of their opening-round game vs. the Steelers.
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In the “Not For Long” league, teams are always moving up and down, with the notable exception of the Pats, who are always awesome, and the Browns, who should be playing semi-pro at this point.
The Bengals have defied that trend for awhile now, but that likely changes this season. Are they good enough to take a step up under QB Andy Dalton? I don’t think so. I believe it’s time for them to take a step back. And I think that starts in Week 1, against the J-E-T-S.
Besides, the home team better win this week, because the Jets have a very tough month ahead.
