Cincinnati Bengals Not Ready To Take Next Step?

The Cincinnati Bengals had a perfect opportunity, to prove the nation that they are to be taken seriously, and a team that can make a deep postseason run.

Well what the national viewing audience witness Sunday night, was a team looking like the “old” Bengals team that would get bullied by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that was the case last night in the steel city.

The team had a goal of finishing the regular season 6-0, well you can forget about that. Now there are doubts creeping in, that they are a one and done team in the playoffs. Days after becoming the team to watch out for in the AFC, are today viewed as a ball club not ready for the big stage.

With a chance to prove that are going to be the top team in the division for years to come, the Pittsburgh Steelers bullied Cincinnati, and outplayed them in their 30-20 victory over a overmatched Bengals team last night.

The talent is there, and with a perfect stage on national television to take the next step on being legit, the Bengals do what they do best, and that is not capitalizing on a big opportunity .

When it comes to primetime games, the Bengals have not fair well in recent years and that is the case with this year’s team. This season they are 1-2 on those games. The city of Cincinnati has not witness a playoff win in 23 years. This year’s team has a great chance to end it.

But with the added pressure of  playoff games, and primetime games. Can this team handle it?

The Bengals had a opportunity to take over the No. 2 seed in the AFC, as the New England Patriots lost to the Miami Dolphins. Right now, playoffs are not a guarantee, this team must regroup at home, where they have found great comfort of doing. A win last night, would have controlled their destiny into getting the two seed. Now they will need big time help to earn a 1st round bye.

Until then, this team looks like a bunch that could be for the third straight season, a one and done team in the playoffs. I hope I’m wrong, but with Cincinnati sports when a team has opportunity to take the big leap, they always find a way to fall down and disappoint.