Clueless NFL.com in August: Bengals “have a long way to go” and will finish last

The young gunslinger


… Not the “Bungles” any longer


Perhaps Jim Trotter does not realize that in the age of the Internet, words have consequence. He works for an organization that I have called “semi-pros.”


NFL.com just seems to be south of the curve. Now, their mistake regarding the Cincinnati Bengals, who last week captured the title of the NFC North after finishing last the past three seasons. 


In predicting the AFC North to be the toughest division this year, it also made this prediction,


THE BAD: The Cincinnati Bengals still have a long way to go.


Jeffri Chadiha, “2021 NFL season preview: Ranking all eight divisions,” NFL.com, August 25, 2021


They selected the Browns and Ravens to be on top of the division and the Bengals to finish last. 


Famous last words.


Now, Trotter and the others at that semi-pro outfit have changed their tunes.


Win over Chiefs opened eyes


So, this is what Trotter wrote earlier this week,



CINCINNATI -- What now?


Some said their head coach was unproven, their nucleus too young and inexperienced, their defense too suspect at home to be considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders. 


And when those arguments failed to gain traction, there was always the lazy and ill-informed mantra of, Well, they're the Bengals.


While the franchise finished last in its division the past three seasons, out of the playoffs the past five years and currently is seeking its first postseason win in 31 years, no one should confuse this group with previous iterations. There is grit and resolve with these Bengals, who on Sunday claimed the AFC North title with a 34-31 victory over the Chiefs.


Jim Trotter, “Cincinnati Bengals claim first AFC North title in six years behind Joe Burrow-led youth movement,” NFL.com, January 2, 2022


So, have they really changed?


The comeback win over the Chiefs, with their all-world QB a Super Bowl rings from two years ago, gave hope to the fans of Cincinnati,


The outcome warmed the hearts of 64,505 long-suffering fans on a frigid afternoon in Paul Brown Stadium, and though it would be foolish to say the past is a distant memory, it is not a stretch to say this group has provided the next generation of Bengals fans with a reason to believe it will not have to endure the same heartache and heartbreak their parents did.


The Bengals overcame not only three 14-point deficits, but a team riding the crest of an eight-game winning streak and seeking to reach a third consecutive Super Bowl. They trailed 14-0 before some had even settled into their seats, which was reason enough to buckle the knees of a young team. But Cincinnati was not intimidated. In fact, the youngsters played brilliantly, notably the franchise's two most recent first-round draft picks.


Second-year quarterback Joe Burrow, who in the privacy of the locker room lit up a victory cigar just as he had done after leading LSU to a national championship, followed up his 525-yard passing performance the previous week against Baltimore with 446 yards and four touchdowns against a defense that had allowed an average of just one aerial score in its previous five games. He was under consistent duress but coolly avoided danger with his pocket mobility, becoming the first player this season to have consecutive games in which he threw for at least four touchdowns and 400 yards, per NFL Research.


Jim Trotter, NFL.com, January 2, 2022


Marvin Lewis is gone


The Bungles are now the Bengals. Marvin Lewis’ teams always seemed to bungle something, but this is a new day,


The recent past has been lean for the franchise -- four wins last season, two the year before that, and a maximum of seven in each of the three preceding that. It almost felt like the Bengals would never get it right. Even when they were good, it turned out bad -- with seven one-and-done playoff appearances under coach Marvin Lewis.


Jim Trotter, NFL.com, January 2, 2022


Steeler fans still believe that the Bengals will be “one and done.” However, their team will once again be sitting home while the new kids on the block, who happen to be young, have replaced them at the top. 


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