A.J. Green and the Bengals went out this weekend in the first round of the NFL Playoffs. By Navin75 (Flickr: WR AJ Green) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

This team has a solid core. Andy Dalton lead this year’s offense with 27 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and passed for 3,669 yards. Second year receiver and pro-bowler A.J. Green had 97 receptions for 1,350 yards and 11 touchdowns. Newly signed running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis led the running attack with 1,094 yards with six touchdowns. The under-rated defense set the sack record for the franchise and was led by Defensive Tackle and pro-bowler Geno Atkins (12.5 sacks).

The season started bleak for the Bengals, embarrassed by division rival Baltimore in the first game of the season on Monday Night Football. After week 9, the team sat at 3-5 with losses to the Browns and Dolphins and the prospects for even making the playoffs were not good.

Surprisingly the Bengals shocked the NFL and beat down the Giants, 31-13 in week 10. After the inspiring win over the Super Bowl champs, the Bengals went on to win six of their next seven games. They even beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the playoff-clincher. They were no longer the so-called “Bungles.”

The Bengals were locked into the sixth and final playoff seed in the AFC, despite tying the AFC North champion Ravens with a record of 10-6 and ended up playing the Texans in the first round. The Texans had been struggling and any team was better than the red-hot Broncos or the playoff proven Patriots. Despite the decent matchup, the Bengals lost again in the playoffs. They had a chance with a 3^rd and 11 possession with under three minutes to play but quarterback Andy Dalton over-threw receiver A.J. Green in the end zone, a play that would have given the Bengals a 20-19 lead.

While Cincinnati didn’t advance in the playoffs yet again, the season did show that as the combination of Dalton and Green grow, along with the strong young defense, the Bengals will be a force to reckon with in the future. The Bengals gained tremendous experience and poise by turning their season around when everyone thought they were done and finally beating the Steelers on the road. It would have been nice to cap off this season with a playoff win, but the Bengals should be happy with making the playoffs right now.

That being said, how much longer can that be the standard? Hopefully next season this young up-and-coming team will come back with a hunger for success and if they do, this team is built to win, I believe for a long time.