Bengals only hope is future

The Cincinnati Bengals made a late season surge. They won their final five games to put themselves in position to be in the playoffs. It came down to the final weekend where the teams hopes were pinned on several scenarios. All the scenarios had to come true. They all did with the exception of one. As a result the late season surge was too little, too late. For the second straight season Cincy will be at home watching the playoffs.Looking back on the 9-8 season, had just one of those losses been wins the Bengals would have had their chance to be in the playoffs. You could take your pick. I think the most devastating loss had to be the week 1 loss to the New England Patriots. Despite a first year now fired head coach of a team that went 4-13, the New England Patriots came to Cincy and upset the Bengals in week #1 16-10. The loss set the tone for a devastating start to the season. One the Bengals never did recover from.There were some historically great performances from the Bengal  stars. The Bengal threesome of Jamar Chase, Joe Burrow, and Tre Hendrickson had seasons so elite...