The Story of the 2015 Cincinnati Bengals

(photo credit: athlonsports.com)

Looking back at the 2015 Bengals, it makes sense to split their season into two parts. Most of the year and the disastrous finish to their Wild Card game against Pittsburgh. The regular season can only be considered a success, at 12-4 the Bengals had their regular season since the 1988 season when they went to the Super Bowl. Marvin Lewis solidified his spot as the most successful coach in team history leading the team to a record fifth straight playoff appearance and the winning the division for fourth time in his tenure.

Cincinnati started off as one of the hottest teams in the NFL winning their first 8 games and Quarterback Andy Dalton was a major part of that. After being inconsistent at best throughout the first 4 seasons of his career (61.6 % completions, 99 touchdowns, 66 interceptions) Dalton proved that he was a franchise centerpiece.

His career year say him complete 66.1% of his passes, throw 25 touchdowns and only seven interceptions through 13 weeks. AJ Green gave Dalton a big time target as he continued to dominate secondaries hauling in 10 touchdowns and 1297 yards. The Bengals defense was one of the best in professional football allowing the second least points and 11th fewest yards.

If there was any hiccup in the regular season it came in Week 14 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After throwing an early interception Dalton's year was finished when he broke his thumb trying to make the tackle. For a moment it look like the dream was over for Cincinnati, then A.J. McCarron came in. The Alabama product's steady arm went 2-1 for the rest of the season and guided the Bengals into a Wild Card Game against division rivals.

After a manic comeback in the fourth quarter, Cincinnati looked like they had the game wrapped up after Vontaze Burfict picked off Landry Jones with Ben Rothlisberger on the bench. Then the wheels started to come off. On the following Jeremy Hill fumbled giving Pittsburgh the ball on the nine yard line with 1:23. Rothlisberger with a dislocated shoulder managed to come back and lead the offense their 41 before disaster struck the Bengals.

Burfict was called for an unnecessary roughness penalty when he laid out Antonio Brown on an incomplete pass. Then in a situation which I still can't comprehend, even as a Steelers fan, Pittsburgh assistant coach Joey Porter was able to taunt Cornerback Adam Jones into an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Porter's history with the Bengals has been antagonistic culminating with him and some friends attack then Cincy Lineman Levi Jones in a Las Vegas casino in 2007. The fact that he was allowed on the field and wasn't flagged is ludicrous. Nevertheless the penalities moved Pittsburgh into field goal range and they won 18-16.

In 2016 the regular season doesn't mean much to the Bengals. Obviously they need to make the playoffs, but outside of that it doesn't have much value. They need to win a playoff game, during Lewis' tenure he's made the playoffs seven times but hasn't gotten to the Divisional Round yet.