The Cincinnati Bengals want to “exorcise the elephant in the room” in their playoff match up against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t won a playoff game in 24 years and that reality will continue to overshadow them until they win a playoff game. They have a chance to remove that black cloud when they face the Indianapolis Colts on the road Sunday in the wildcard round of the playoffs.
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The Bengals have lost in the wildcard round three straight years and are desperately trying to avoid a fourth year of being one and done. Losing four straight years in the wildcard round is something that could have ramifications on the organization.
The first person people will look at in such an event is quarterback Andy Dalton who was given $96 million this past offseason. Dalton has yet to prove he can lead the Bengals to a playoff victory, throwing six interceptions to just one touchdown in the three game span.
Losing a fourth straight game would tie Dalton with Hall of Fame quarterback Y.A. Tittle. Tittle is best known as the only quarterback in modern history to be inducted into the Hall of Fame without winning a postseason game.
The Bengals are aware of the situation and know what lies in front of them. Offensive Coordinator Hue Jackson understands that they have some work to do.
“We have to exorcise the elephant in the room,” Jackson told TheMMQB.com’s Peter King. Jackson mixing up his metaphors is comical but he does get his point across, the Bengals have to win a playoff game or the cloud over Cincinnati grows even larger.
“I don’t believe in running from reality,” Jackson said to King, “And I see a group that understands where we are and what they are facing. I have seen a focused group this week. This has been the most focused week of practice I have seen in Andy. I think it will show up on Sunday.”
The Bengals will also have A.J. Green back this week, as Green returned to practice this week after suffering a concussion Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bengals are facing an Indianapolis team that rolled them over 27-0 back in October. It won’t be easy on the road against Andrew Luck and the Colts but Cincinnati has a shot to erase the past and allow the franchise to move forward.
If they don’t win, the “elephant” will grow even larger for Cincinnati.
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