The Bengals' last postseason win came in January 1991, back when Boomer Esiason was the quarterback and Sam Wyche was the coach. And on Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium against hated rival Pittsburgh, Cincinnati was a minute and 36 seconds away from breaking a drought that has spanned four coaches and more losing seasons than anyone cared to remember.
And then the simmering pot boiled over.
The Bengals had just scored the go-ahead touchdown on an AJ McCarron-to-A.J. Green touchdown pass. A play later, an interception by Steelers quarterback Landry Jones (he was in for an injured-at-the-time Ben Roethlisberger) pretty much confirmed that the football gods had finally decided to give Cincy a break.