7-4

Who would ever have thought that the Bengals would actually have a shot at a winning record, let alone a playoff spot this season.

Most everyone - certainly me - thought they'd be competing for the number one pick in the 2012 NFL draft rather than competing for a division title.

Maybe this sorry, sorry franchise has finally turned it around.

What a difference a year, a draft, and some trades can make.

First, the year. In 2010 the Bengals signed T.O. to help spruce up their passing game. They added Jermane Gresham in the first round at tight end. They added Jordan Shipley in the third round to play the slot WR. All of this was to already go with Ochocinco and Cedric Benson and Carson Palmer, who helped the team go 10-6 and win the division in 2009.

Well, things didn't really turn out that way. T.O and Ochocinco were toxic for team chemistry. The Bengals stumbled out of the gate, getting blown out by New England in the first game of the year, and limping to a woeful 4-12 record.

They reached their fourth win two months ago this year. How nice it is.

Second, the 2011 draft. The first round brought arguably the Bengals best first round pick ever (besides Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz) A.J. Green. He has dominated from day one. Certainly Randy Moss had a more dominating rookie year, but other than that, AJ Green is the most dominant rookie receiver since. Every game he plays, he makes a big play (just youtube his 51 yard catch and run from last week's win over the Browns to see what I mean). On top of that, the Bengals were lucky enough to have the "Red Rifle," Andy Dalton, slip to them in the second round. The quarterback out of TCU has simply been phenomenal. His 16 touch down passes are a franchise record. And we still have five games left. Dalton has thrown some picks (three against Baltimore and two against San Fran and Pittsburgh, but he rallied the team in all three of those games, losing to SF by five and then losing to Baltimore and Pitt by a touchdown each).

Finally, the trades. Who would have ever thought that jettisoning Ocho would make a world of difference for Cincy. And how much fun it is to watch him toil in obscurity in NE. Who knows how miserable Dalton would be dealing with Ocho's undisciplined play and his massive ego in the lockerroom. I doubt that the sixth or seventh round pick we got for him will amount to anything, but trading Palmer to Oakland is grand theft. Sure, Palmer is doing well for the Raiders (and I hope he gets the to the AFC Championship in the next two years, then the second pick they gave us for him will turn to a first rounder), but the extra picks we got for him (especially the number one this year) will really strengthen the roster.

Now if we can just steal a win at Pittsburgh this weekend . . .