Cincinnati Bengals Are Playing Their Best Football In 27 Years
By Mel Payne
November 18, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) throws a pass in the second half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bengals won 28-6. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE
The Bengals have won by 18 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time in 27 years. The last time the team pulled off such decisive wins in consecutive games, Boomer Esiason was at the helm and taking over for Ken Anderson in his second year as a quarterback. The 1985 Bengals beat Houston and Dallas in Riverfront Stadium by scores of 45-27 and 50-24, respectively, in early December.
Now in a 2012 campaign that has seen ups and downs for the team and their fans, the Bengals are back at it again. This time being led by another second year quarterback, Andy Dalton. The current Bengals got their wins over the New York Giants 31-13 in Paul Brown Stadium and then the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead by a score of 28-6.
Hopefully, the 2012 season ends better for Cincinnati though. Under Sam Wyche the 1985 Bengals finished with a record of just 7-9 and didn’t make the playoffs. This year’s team would make more Bengals history if they could do better than that 1985 team and make a playoff appearance, making it the first time in franchise history that the team has had back to back playoff berths.
It won’t be an easy road for the Bengals, but out of all of the teams in Cincinnati’s history, this team is the one that can get it done. The talent is there and the team is poised to make another push at just the right time in the season. The upcoming games on the schedule appear favorable, and the young team is coming into their own. It may have taken 27 years to show the world that they can contend, but the much like the 1985 Bengals they have a young leader at the reigns and the future is now.