Two words

[combatbengal]

We can now mention two words in the same sentence: Bengals and playoffs! Bengals are champions of the AFC North and headed to the playoffs for the first time since 1990. If we stay healthy, nobody can stop us. Not even the Colts. Way to stop up to the plate KW. Rudi, you're awesome! Chad and TJ, keep it up!, Palmer, keep it going! Off line, awesome job protecting our general! Def, keep taking that pigskin away! Go Bengals!

[Green 66]

I think Marvin needs to pull out the shovels like he did in '03, to remind everyone to keep shoveling and not to get complacent, in the last 2 games. Still it was wierd to be offered playoff tickets last night by a buddy who has an extra, like i said earlier, 15 years is along time.

Mike Green

Waynesville Ohio

[combatbengal]

Brother, I'm just happy to be in the playoffs!

[WhoDey42]

What a great day! The Bengals are in the playoffs. Wow, that just sounds weird. I love this team. I love watching them every week. Hopefully we'll be able to watch all these guys together for many years to come! Marvin deserves a TON of credit for what he has done to this franchise. No one thought anyone would be able to turn this thing around, people were making fun of Marvin for making such a stupid move and coming to Cincy, and look where we are now. Thank you Marvin! But I think we should also give some credit to Mike Brown. He stepped back, trusted Marvin, and let him run the team and this is where everyone wanted to be during these 15 years of bad football.

It's great to be a Bengal fan! PLAYOFFS BABY!

[BlackJesus]

[combatbengal]

I second that vote!

[WhoDey42]

I love that pic BlackJesus.

[Stripes]

Marvin may have a better chance at that now that Dungy has lost a game. Marvin is certainly the most deserving.

[cincy9275]

the colts were supposed to be a great team. the bengals bye many were call a questionable team and was not going to win the afcn . so marvin is the coach of the year in my book i don't even think its close what marvin has done here is just well speaks for its self . GO BENGALS

[jjakq27]

the colts were supposed to be a great team. the bengals bye many were call a questionable team and was not going to win the afcn . so marvin is the coach of the year in my book i don't even think its close what marvin has done here is just well speaks for its self . GO BENGALS

One of the two announcers circled Tom Coughlin on the list of coach of the year candidates. Why I am not sure. And I thought one of them said that " you could also make a case for Marvin Lewis".

Make a case?! It's a fricking no-brainer. The Giants were in the Super Bowl in 2000. They have many of the same guys still on the team form that year. They underachieved with Jim Fassel. Coughlin comes in and gets them going in the right direction again and he's now the favorite?

Marvin has taken this team from the Pit of Doom to the playoffs in three years. Look at Detroit yesterday. That used to be us.

There shouldn't even be any debate. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to go and win the Super Bowl now.

[derekshank]

the colts were supposed to be a great team. the bengals bye many were call a questionable team and was not going to win the afcn . so marvin is the coach of the year in my book i don't even think its close what marvin has done here is just well speaks for its self . GO BENGALS

One of the two announcers circled Tom Coughlin on the list of coach of the year candidates. Why I am not sure. And I thought one of them said that " you could also make a case for Marvin Lewis".

Make a case?! It's a fricking no-brainer. The Giants were in the Super Bowl in 2000. They have many of the same guys still on the team form that year. They underachieved with Jim Fassel. Coughlin comes in and gets them going in the right direction again and he's now the favorite?

Marvin has taken this team from the Pit of Doom to the playoffs in three years. Look at Detroit yesterday. That used to be us.

There shouldn't even be any debate. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to go and win the Super Bowl now.

In fairness to Coughlin... even fewer people expected the Giants to be good than the Bengals. People were projecting 9-10 wins for the Bengals. We've clearly exceeded expectations... but the Giants were supposed to have a losing record.

[combatbengal]

I agree Lewis for coach of the year! Last night on sprts center, they focused more on the Colts loss then they did on the Bengals obtaining the AFCN crown. But then we're used to that kind of crap!

[jjakq27]

Yes Coughlin has made a difference in NY, but many sceptics, nationally and otherwise (you know who you are) predicted mediocre results for the Bengals too.

If I am not mistaken, only a few weeks ago we continued to hear that we haven't played anyone or beaten anyone.

Here are the Giants results since 2000

2000 12-4 Lost in Super Bowl to Ravens

2001 7-9

2002 10-6 Lost wildcard game to SF

2003 4-12 Fassel Fired

2004 6-10 Tom Coughlin coach

2005 10-4 to date

Bengals since 2000

2000 4-12 Coslet quits/LeBeau take sover

2001 6-10

2002 2-14 LeBeau fired

2003 8-8 Marvin Lewis coach

2004 8-8 Marvin Lewis coach

2005 11-3 to date, clinched AFC North division

[derekshank]

Yes Coughlin has made a difference in NY, but many sceptics, nationally and otherwise (you know who you are) predicted mediocre results for the Bengals too.

If I am not mistaken, only a few weeks ago we continued to hear that we haven't played anyone or beaten anyone.

Here are the Giants results since 2000

2000 12-4 Lost in Super Bowl to Ravens

2001 7-9

2002 10-6 Lost wildcard game to SF

2003 4-12 Fassel Fired

2004 6-10 Tom Coughlin coach

2005 10-4 to date

Bengals since 2000

2000 4-12 Coslet quits/LeBeau take sover

2001 6-10

2002 2-14 LeBeau fired

2003 8-8 Marvin Lewis coach

2004 8-8 Marvin Lewis coach

2005 11-3 to date, clinched AFC North division

What do records since 2000 have to do with coach of the year? Really, the only reason to look at past seasons at all is to look at roster talent. Our 2-14 turn-around was completely due to Lewis... but that was 2003... not 2005. We have almost nothing left from that 2-14 team.

The Giants on the other hand still have a lot of the players from their 4-12 and 6-10 seasons.

I'm not trying to take anything away from Lewis. He has done more for the Bengals than any coach of any other franchise. I really believe that... but he's been building this for 3 years... and a lot of people saw that we were close. So while people didn't expect us to be this good... it still isn't a huge surprise to most

The Giants were awful last year, and are one of the biggest surprises of the year, next to maybe Chicago and TB. Add the fact that they are in NY, and there is a team in Indy that almost went undefeated, and a team in Chicago that turned it around in even less time than the Bengals, and I think you're looking at a long shot for Marvin Lewis as coach of the year... unfortunately.

[walshfan]

dungy, lewis , coughlin, lovie smith... who knows.

[AMC]

the colts were supposed to be a great team. the bengals bye many were call a questionable team and was not going to win the afcn . so marvin is the coach of the year in my book i don't even think its close what marvin has done here is just well speaks for its self . GO BENGALS

I agree...it's all about exceding expectations....while Dungy has done that as well, Marvin deserves an award for the last three years combined.....the "Changing of an Attitude"Award....

[jjakq27]

DS I am not sure I agree with what you are saying. Yes the Giants have alot of guys from the 4-12 and 6-10 teams but alot of those guys played on the two playoff teams since 2000 also.

Regardless of expectations, to date the Giants are +4 wins above their record from last year. The Bengals are +3. Not much of a difference between the two.