Retrospect

The Saints are going to the Superbowl. Tell any Saints fan during the Aaron Brooks era that their team would be in the Superbowl by the end of the decade and they would probably be skeptical. That should give Bengals fans some hope that maybe our next Superbowl appearance isn't too far away.

Ten wins and a playoff birth should also supply some hope as well. Looking back on this season the one word I can use to describe it is bizarre. How often does a Bengals season start with the spotlight, supplied by Hard Knocks, on the Bengals? How often does tragedy strike the same team twice? How often does a Bengals team own its division and keep the Steelers out of the playoffs? It's not the norm as we know it but there are certain things about this bizarre season we could all get used to.

A couple moments defined this season and will stick out in my memory as the key points of the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals.

- Brandon Stokley catching the dream-smashing tip and running 80 yards started the season on a sour note. That type of play would presumably have a devastating affect on Bengals teams of the past but the team rallied the next week to beat a playoff team in the Packers.

- Both victories over the Steelers let the Superbowl Champions know they weren't going to Miami. For once Steelers fans have absolutely nothing to say after this season because the Bengals were undeniably the better team. However, the Bengals did do the Steelers a favor by giving James Harrison more time this off season to read his first non-picture book.

- The passing of Vicki Zimmer and Chris Henry gave us perspective and appreciation of those individuals in a way only tragedy can provide. The bonds between teammates, coaches, families and fans were made more tangible than any of us thought possible when we were robbed of two good people.

- The hard-fought victory of Kansas City sealed the ownership of the division and just the second playoff appearance in 19 years for the Bengals. I know I celebrated that win like fans of the Colts or Patriots celebrate conference championships.

Who can't wait until the draft?