Rise and shine Bengals Nation! It's Thursday. And you know what that means? It means nothing. It's just another day filled with work, work, and even more work. Sounds like an exciting Thursday, right? This week has been dragging on it feels like. It needs to be Sunday so we can watch the Bengals play the Titans.

Anyone notice how the Bengals never get recognized for when they play well? I have and it's irritating. I guess the Bengals never get any recognition because they have usually been a consistently bad team. But that was a different time.

It's a new era in Cincinnati. And this team shouldn't be taken lightly. They have been playing solid football all season. Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, and Jermaine Gresham are all going to be key for the Bengals future success. Yes, this is me predicting that the Bengals are going to transform into a team that will be play respectable football that's also capable of making the playoffs more than two times in a 20-year span.

Neither Dalton or Green have looked like rookies. And the rest of the younger guys have been playing solid football for the most part as well. And if this continues then Cincinnati could be looking at an extended period of sustained success.

I don't care if the Bengals schedule is considered "easy." That argument in itself is complete garbage that comes from a wave of pessimists and so called "critics" that are "experts" when it comes to football. The Bengals are doing what any great team does, and that's pounding weaker opponents.

Just because the Bengals are by far the most amazingly awesome team in the NFL doesn't mean analysts should question their abilities or criticize them because of their schedule. The Bengals conduct, play, results, and production on the field is what matters, not what is written on paper. And so far the results have looked outstanding for the Bengals.

Alright here is what you may have missed or overlooked from Wednesday.

• Here is the latest injury and practice report for the Bengals and Titans. Jermaine Gresham and Rey Maualuga ended up working out on a side field while nursing injuries during Wednesday's practice.
• On Sunday the Bengals will be opposing one of the most feared running backs in the league in Chris Johnson. Here is a look at how he has performed against the Bengals and the rest of the AFC North.
• Here is the latest news from the rest of the AFC North. Note to self: I hate the Steelers.
• The Bengals offensive and defensive snap count against the Seattle Seahawks.
• Steve Wyche of NFL.com believes Mike Zimmer has the tangibles to be a head coach in the NFL and he could be a candidate for future head coaching vacancies.
• Despite having a down season Titans running back Chris Johnson is still capable of demolishing any opposing defenses. What are the chances that he gets back on track against the Bengals?
• Cincy Jungle's week eight MVP is......get me a light saber and we'll talk. Otherwise check it out for yourself.
• Several teams passed up Andy Dalton during the 2011 draft. The 2011 quarterback draft class was filled with an insane amount of college quarterbacks that have a high ceiling of potential. But the Bengals have been fortunate to find the "thorn" among the roses in Dalton. And he feels "a little extra motivation" playing against teams that passed him up in the draft.
•  Brandon Tate earned himself the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week with his 186 all-purpose yards against Seattle.
• Adam Jones says that his hamstring is currently at "60 percent".
• In order to make room on the active roster for Cedric Benson, the Bengals released Morgan Trent.
• Former Bengals players are working out with other teams from around the league in hopes of landing a contract of some sort.
• Former Bengals cornerback Jonathan Wade has signed with the Miami Dolphins.