It Matters Not What The National Media Says, Or Doesn't Say

If you don't mind my irritating example with one of my favorite trilogies of all-time, at one point late in the story, Han Solo's team was surrounded by Storm Troopers on Endor, the shield to Death Star II was still raised and Luke Skywalker was wrapped in the Emperor's force lightening. Bleak, things were. Yet the protagonists persevered with blind luck, the worst George Lucas decision in the history of decisions (aka, Ewoks) and the sheer determination of an inspired underdog, whipping on the favorites because that's what underdogs do; forgetting for a moment that it took the Rebels another 10 years after the second Death Star's destruction before finally resolving towards a peace.

The Cincinnati Bengals were losing by 14 points heading into half time during a game reverberated zero confidence that the Bengals could recover. Fans booed the offense, some questioned if keeping Andy Dalton in the game would do the kid any good. Even FanPosts were written by half time that demanded Marvin Lewis' job and questioned if Jay Gruden was really the answer; not that we Bengals fans tend to overreact at times.

Cincinnati dropped 20 points on the Bills in the second half while the defense held Buffalo's offense to only a field goal. Andy Dalton went from a rookie quarterback posting a passer rating of 15 to a gunslinger of destruction in the second half, using shoulder pads as toothpicks clearing out Buffalo between the spaces in his teeth. For those less inclined, we're saying he ate up the Bills defense, not that our rookie quarterback is actually a cannibal because really, Roger Goodell would view that as a suspendable offense (at least four games).

That being said Bengals fans want some vindication; at least an acknowledgement that it was the Bengals, not the New England Patriots, that beat the undefeated Buffalo Bills. We like to be scratched behind our ears; I know, we're petty that way. After all this is a Bengals squad that's won six of their previous 19 games dating back to week 14 of the 2009 season. Yet if expectations were forecast based off historical trends, then disappointment isn't something unexpected; that's because favorites that lose tend to favor headlines, especially in cities with greater television markets.

The Philadelphia Eagles, expected to be overwhelmingly talented, are an underwhelming 1-3; not that we're hinting at the obvious debate of local flavor in that Mike Brown's lack of movement during the early hours of free agency when the best players are available. There's the Dallas Cowboys squandering a 24-point lead to a Detroit Lions squad that hasn't lost game, preseason included, since December 5, 2010. There's the putrid offensively challenged Jets.

So if there's a denunciation of the national media due to a general lack of coverage during Cincinnati's 23-20 loss, then favor not the trivial pursuits of irrelevancy. Just watch. As this team wins, those things will come. A single win isn't going to change that too much; but a path of destruction against teams that are favored to win will do just nicely.