Cincinnati Bengals: Can They Take the Next Step?

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The Cincinnati Bengals have an agenda in 2013. Having made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in three decades, they now have even loftier goals, a trip, not only to the postseason, but the ultimate prize, a Super Bowl victory. The Bengals haven't made it to the NFL's championship game since their heart-breaking, tear-inducing loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII, a loss that most fans have yet to fully recover from. Now, after a dark era of being a league doormat, and a long rebuilding period, the team stands on the verge of consistently being among the top teams, and a deep playoff run would solidify their status as a team to watch. 

 The main catalyst behind the revival of such a downtrodden franchise has been their success in the NFL Draft. During the down times of the 1990's, the draft was a source of frustration for both the Bengals and their fans, with bad picks being more common than good. There were some bright spots, but top selections seemed to either get hurt or just fail outright every season, and they weren't able to amass enough talent to compete. Head coach Marvin Lewis and his staff have turned this around, and their propensity to find talent has led them back from a position of ridicule to one of respect around the league. Players like AJ Green, Geno Atkins, Leon Hall, and Michael Johnson, among others, are all homegrown talent who were developed by the Bengals and who have become great players there. Like the best teams in the NFL, the team is building through the draft, eschewing high-priced free agents in favor of young talent, and it's paying off. 

 The Bengals have shown an ability to compete during the regular season, and make it to the playoffs, and in the process have raised expectations of fans. Now, a playoff win is needed, and could be on the horizon with such a talented group of players. Quarterback Andy Dalton, another drafted player, will be under the microscope, looked to by fans and teammates to lead them to a place they haven't been to in over 20 years. The talent is most definitely there, led by a defensive unit that has been among the league's best, to take the next step. If the offense can match the other side of the ball, fans might finally be rewarded for their support, even through the down times, with a trip to football's pinnacle, the biggest game of all, the Super Bowl, and just maybe, they can finish things, and wipe away some 25 year old tears.

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