A brief hope existed that the Cincinnati Bengals could rise to a new level, taking out one of the league’s top-ranked offenses led by a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback. Optimistic scenarios carried weighty overtures if the Bengals won: 1) Cincinnati would improve to 6-3, enhancing their Wild Card chances and 2) build desperately needed confidence by giving a Super Bowl bound contender an unexpected blemish.
Hope, dreams, they’re well-and-good — cushioning ourselves against the cynical nature of being a Cincinnati fan. If the Bengals, the Reds, Bearcats, or Musketeers aren’t offering disappointment in some degree — whether they’re submitting poor midseason report cards or making early postseason exits — then we’re not sure how to react.