End of the Season

Two weeks ago the Bengals season came to an end when the Houston Texans spanked them in the first round of the playoffs.

Still, the fact they were even in the playoffs was a miracle. I mean there was no one in the world giving them a shot at the playoffs in August, especially after their miserable pre-season. Not when they were starting a rookie quarterback (usually the kiss of death for franchises) and a rookie wide receiver and were coming off a four win season the year before with a lot more talent (Terrell Owens was not going to be resigned, Ochocinco was traded to the Pats for a late round draft pick, and Carson Palmer, who would later be dealt in a Herschel Walker type trade in a few months, was threatening to retire rather than play for the Bengals). Oh yeah, they were breaking in a new offensive coordinator who last coached in the arena league.

Yet, the Bengals righted themselves after a 1-2 start and reeled off five straight wins before struggling against a very difficult late schedule. The eventually made the playoffs as the last wild card in the AFC with a 9-7 record.

And that rookie quarterback? He was outstanding. He showed more leadership than Palmer ever did. And that rookie wide receiver? He was even more outstanding. No rookie receiver since Randy Moss had as many big plays as AJ Green did.

Green was so good that he was voted to the Pro Bowl. Now this week we just learned that three more of his teammates would be joining him: Andy Dalton (who was voted a first alternate and will play in place of Tom Brady, who will be practicing for the Pro Bowl), DT Geno Atkins (who was a first alternate behind Vince Wolfork, who will also be in the Super Bowl), and their second year tight end Jermaine Gresham (who was a third alternate behind Rob Gronkowsi, who will be in the SB, and Aaron Henderson (Gronkowski's back up who also will be in the SB) and Owen Daniels, who is hurt). Now, if we can just get our superb LT, Andrew Whitworth, somehow, it would be awesome.

No one would have ever in their wildest dreams have dared guess the Bengals - in one short season - would go from an awful team who seemed destined to draft Andrew Luck with the first pick in the draft, to being on the verge of taking a good run at the AFC North title for years to come.

They are a very young team (Dalton and AJ are the first rookie qb and wr combo ever voted to the Pro Bowl). They don't have much in terms of star power to resign in free agency. Now that new rules force owners to spend up to the salary cap limit, maybe the Bengals will be more aggressive in going after serious free agents (or at least resigning their own, losing Pro Bowl corner Jonathan Joseph really hurt their secondary this year). On top of all of that, the Bengals shipped disgruntled Palmer to the hapless Oakland Raiders for their first round pick this year (#17 overall) and a second rounder next year (which turns to a first rounder if the Raiders play in the AFC Championship game, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen).

A quick look at the talent the Bengals have been able to stockpile in the last few drafts: Andrew Whitworth, Dometa Peko, Leon Hall, Andre Smith, Ray Malualuga, Jermain Gresham, Carlos Dunlap, Jordan Shipley, Geno Atkins, and now Dalton and AJ Green. If the Bengals can land more impact players with those two first round picks (they have four picks in the first three rounds), they should be that much more stout.