The Bengals are not viewed as anything close to a model franchise today, but things were a lot worse about 20 years ago. From 1991-2002, Cincinnati posted a .500 record just once and had eight double digit loss seasons.
As strange as it sounds now, most folks associate the Bengals exiting laughing stock territory with the hiring of Marvin Lewis and the drafting of Carson Palmer. Those two things got the franchise over the hump and back in the playoffs. Really though, the seeds were planted on draft day in 2001. The franchise that had high profile draftees like Ki-Jana Carter and David Klingler flame out for one reason or another drafted four future Pro Bowlers in seven total draft picks in 2001.