I have been a die-hard NFL fan since I could walk. For many years, I have watched many great football games. Football can teach us about teamwork, camaraderie, competitiveness, respect, and achieving goals, which are lessons we can apply to our own lives. Unfortunately, the Bengals must have missed a lesson.
Last Saturday, the Bengals tried to end their 9,000-day playoff drought. The last Bengals playoff win occurred on January 6, 1991 after defeating the Houston Oilers 41-14. Since then, the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee and became the Tennessee Titans and Boomer Esiason and Ickey Woods still played for Cincinnati.
I am old enough to remember watching the team’s last playoff win, which means that any fans born before January 6, 1991 have never seen a Bengals’ playoff win. That’s a long stretch of futility. So what about the Bengals future? Do they hire a new head coach or keep Marvin Lewis? It’s been said that insanity is doing the same thing continuously and expecting different results. Marvin Lewis now has a record of losing seven straight playoff games. Is it insane to keep him for another season? Here’s his postseason record as a head coach:
1. 2005: Loss to Pittsburgh Steelers
2. 2009: Loss to New York Jets
3. 2011: Loss to Houston Texans
4. 2012: Loss to Houston Texans
5. 2013: Loss to San Diego Chargers
6. 2014: Loss to Indianapolis Colts
7. 2015 Loss to Pittsburgh Steelers
Of these losses, Saturday’s had to be the worst. After Bengals player Vontaze Burfict intercepted Steelers QB Landry Jones, the game appeared over. But on the Bengals next drive, Jeremy Hill fumbled the ball. The Steelers recovered the ball with under 2 minutes left.
The Bengals meltdown began after a ferocious illegal hit from Vontaze Burfict. He speared receiver Antonio Brown with a ferocious headshot. Burfict’s hit cost the Bengals 15 yards. Then Bengals CB Adam Jones received a penalty for another 15 yards for his comments to Steelers Assistant Joey Porter.
After back-to-back Bengals penalties of 30 yards, the Steelers moved into field goal range, and kicked a chip shot field goal. The Steelers held on for an 18-16 win.
Before the game, referees warned players about excessive violence and to keep their emotions in check. Had the Bengals done so, they would be moving on to the next round of playoffs. Regardless, in the NFL, the head coach must accept all responsibility for his players. Ask yourself if your employer would accept such irrational behavior from you or co-workers. I would guess your employer would fire you for insubordination. During the offseason, the Bengals will need to make some personnel decisions. Until then, the stinging playoff loss to the Steelers will leave Bengals fans with a bad aftertaste in their mouths until the next season.
Marc Hoover is a grandfather and lives in Clermont County. Visit his website at www.lifewithgrandpa.com.