1991-2002 Bengals- least awful Cincy team(s)?

[CSKreager]

During the Bengals run between the 1990 playoff season/division title and Marvin Lewis' arrival in Cincy (where they had four straight non-losing seasons to start) the Bengals from 1991-2001 were obviously really bad in many areas in the NFL.

But which of these teams was the least awful? As bad as they were, surely one or two of their teams had to be the least sucky by default.

[conace21]

Take your pick from the 1995, 1996, and 1997 teams. 7-9, 8-8, 7-9. The final two years, the team finished very strong when Cosley took over in 1996, and Boomer closed out his career in 1997. Those teams were generally strong on offense and weak on defense.

[ChrisBabcock]

It definitely seemed like they were starting to put something together on offense in the late 90s with Blake/Dillon/Pickens but, yeah, the defense was horrendous.

[74_75_78_79_]

Take your pick from the 1995, 1996, and 1997 teams. 7-9, 8-8, 7-9. The final two years, the team finished very strong when Cosley took over in 1996, and Boomer closed out his career in 1997. Those teams were generally strong on offense and weak on defense.

To start out 0-10 one season (after already going 5-11 the year prior) and then 0-8 the next one and still be onboard for the next season...(to be a Shula). Those Klinger/post-Wyche years were awful. The 'harbinger' of mediocrity to come in Cincy would have to be that 8th game of the '94 campaign vs Dallas. Blake & Co opened up a surprising 14-0 early lead only for the back-to-back defending-Champs to rally back, helping Bengals complete that 0-8 start. Cincy would win the next two games but not win one again until the finale vs Philly.

Bengals did begin the next season 2-0 (not the first for Dave Shula; started 2-0 in '92 also), lose the next four, but beat eventual AFC-champ, Pittsburgh, on the road to remain a respectable 3-4. Yes, Steelers weren't 'awake' yet ('no more cell phones in locker room' enforced by Cowher) but come November, Steelers' win-streak already in-effect, Bengals opened up a 31-13 lead in the 3rd Q only to, of course, surrender 36 unanswered in what may very well be Neil O'Donnel's tour-de-force career performance. Never have I been impressed with teams that 'rally' to 500 (now start winning when they're already out of it) which was clearly the case in both '96 & '97. For that I'll give the FWIW-nod to the '95 installment, almost sweeping Steelers and all.

Let's do give 2001 a look though. Under HC Dick LeBeau, Bengals were a respectable-enough 6-10 (I respect them more than '96/'97, at least). Started 2-0 by beating Pats & Ravens on way to 4-3 start. That very '01 draft did help set the table for the soon-to-be Marvin Lewis era.


side note - 1998 was the only season in the Cowher Era that Cincy swept the 'Burgh (like '95, they almost swept them in '06). Of course O'Donnell beating his old team that October to bring his new team to 2-3 is what comes to mind when thinking of that season - harbinger of Steelers' eventual 0-5 collapse in which Bengals, Blake playing in that game, completed the sweep second-last week, 25-24.