Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals: Not time to worry

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals fans have their collective hands pressed firmly on the panic button after a 14-point loss to Dallas last week. But, it’s not time to worry just yet.

Back in 2014, quarterback Aaron Rodgers gave Packers fans five letters — R-E-L-A-X. This is the same advice that Bengals fans should listen to right now. Rodgers uttered that after Green Bay’s 1-2 start. The Packers went on to win 11 of their final 13 games and would have made the Super Bowl had it not been for a botched onside kick in the NFC Championship at Seattle.

There was not much to be happy about last Sunday at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys opened up a 28-0 lead before Cincinnati scored two late touchdowns to make the score more respectable.

Just as I did prior to the 2015 season when Cincinnati lost to Tampa Bay in the preseason, I’m going to tell you why you shouldn’t freak out about the Bengals’ chances of returning to the playoffs.

This is what they do

The combined record of the three teams that have defeated the Bengals this season is 12-3. Pittsburgh, Denver, and Dallas each look like postseason teams at the moment.

Last season, Cincinnati went 3-4 against playoff teams. And if you look at their five straight trips to the postseason, the numbers aren’t great in the regular season against fellow clubs headed for football in mid-January.

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Only in 2013, when the Bengals won the AFC North, did they churn out a winning record in the regular season against playoff teams. That year they went 4-0, defeating Green Bay, New England, San Diego, and Indianapolis.

Combined in the last five years, the Bengals are 12-17-1 during their annual 16-game slate versus teams that went on to make the postseason.

Sure, it’s a different story when you get into the postseason. And beating playoff-caliber teams during the regular season is a tell-tale sign of a club’s postseason success. The 12-17-1 record may indicate why the Bengals have gone winless in five straight playoff trips.

But nonetheless, you don’t start in the playoffs. You have to win to get there. Which leads me to my next point.

Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

The rest of the schedule

The Bengals grueling first six weeks of the schedule concludes this Sunday. Fans knew going in that it would be a tough start to the season with four of the first six contests on the road, and four against teams with 10-plus victories from a season ago.

But after a visit to Foxborough this Sunday, the Bengals’ final 10 games offer a great chance to rebound. See for yourself:

Looking at that schedule, it’s possible for the Bengals to go on a run to win double-digit games and make a sixth trip to the postseason. Even more so if they can pull off a win over the Patriots this week to move back to .500.

Seven of the final 10 games are against teams that currently hold a winning record. However, Pittsburgh at home seems like the toughest matchup, and that’s a team Cincinnati lost to by one possession back in week two.

Going forward, the Bengals could very well pull off five divisional victories. If they can do that, just three wins in their other five contests would give them a 10-6 mark — and that’s only assuming they lose at Gillette Stadium this week where they are 8.5-point underdogs according to Vegas.

Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Party like it’s 2012

Four seasons ago, the Bengals lost 31-23 to the Denver Broncos. A fourth-straight loss dropped their record to 3-5 and things looked bleak. What followed was an incredible run.

Andy Dalton went for 16 touchdowns, the defense held opponents to 12.7 points per game and the Bengals won seven of their final eight. Cincinnati clinched a playoff bid with a 13-10 win at Heinz Field in week 16.

Why can’t fans look at that? With a favorable upcoming schedule, a run like that is very plausible.

Back then, the Bengals were still an up-and-coming team. Fast forward to the present, Cincinnati is a team full of veterans.

Outside a coaching staff that saw three changes on offense (Ken Zampese, Robert Couch, Dan Pitcher) and defense (Robert Livingston, Kevin Coyle, Jim Haslett), this team is experienced and knows how to win football games.

I understand the worry of WhoDey Nation right now. I really do. The team is in uncharted waters with three losses in five weeks.But, this is a club that has lost to three quality opponents, something that we’re used to seeing from September-December since 2011. If the Bengals can win the games they are supposed to win, a sixth consecutive trip to the playoffs is not out of the question.

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