Cincinnati Bengals – AFC Champions

The Cincinnati Bengals won the 2021 NFC Championship Game over the weekend. Can you imagine, the Cincinnati Bengals? The entire region is officially shocked. No one can believe it’s happening and everyone is talking about it. Everyone hugged each other – are we dreaming? The entire city is casting orange lights on their buildings now. Below is a snip of my Facebook feed – we really were in shock.

I’ve been a Bengals fan for many years – going back to the 90s when people laughed in your face when you admitted to it. I remember seeing them play at Riverfront Stadium, once a year we went down to see the Detroit Lions and Barry Sanders or the San Diego Chargers and Junior Seau, both my favorite players at the time. I followed the Bengals, draft bust after draft bust, was ashamed when Bo Jackson broke his leg here, celebrated the building of Paul Brown Stadium while laughing at how bad Mike Brown screwed Hamilton County in the deal, along with all of the other let downs this franchise unleashed on its fans. I watched some amazing players – Takeo Spikes, Corey Dillon, Doug Pelfrey, completely waste their careers here. I also remember Carson Palmer breaking his leg and eventually storming out of the club, not really surprised honestly in the latter, but disappointed nonetheless.

We ultimately will see Andrew Whitworth, a man who should’ve retired as a Bengal, suit up against his former team in the Super Bowl. Bengals fans will celebrate their one Hall-of-Famer – Anthony Munoz – without ever voicing concern that we only have one. We will quietly sweep under the rug the shame the Bengals put their fans through for so many years while watching in horror as a franchise quarterback gets pummeled behind a shaky offensive line. Time will tell what will happen with this team – most fear an Andrew Luck type of exit for Joe Burrow if he can’t be kept upright after this season. I wouldn’t blame him either if he went that path. If the continue to win though, perhaps that generation of fans left behind in the woeful years come back, or new ones take their place. I am a believer in what Joe Burrow can do, there are plenty of amazing athletes in the NFL, but he’s got that mental x-factor necessary to thrive on a big stage.

For now I am celebrating the Cincinnati Bengals. I even purchased a hat to commemorate it, I can’t remember the last Bengals article of clothing I purchased. If they lose the Super Bowl, I will be disappointed, I will admit it. No one ever expected to see this happen, and we are really living in the moment, but a win is unfathomable, but as they say, why not us? What is interesting though, for the first time in my adult life, I will need to make Super Bowl plans. I was just going to watch it at the club with my fellow Dutchmen, but might stay closer to home and be around family instead. This is new territory for Bengals fans, but hopefully not something we can’t visit again.