The 2008 football season was a disheartening one for the Cincinnati Bengals. A 4-11-1 finish was very disappointing to say the least, and largely resulted from the absence of star quarterback Carson Palmer, who missed virtually the entire year due to injury.

Palmer’s absence led to huge offensive struggles for the Cincinnati Bengals, as fill-in Ryan Fitzpatrick was a few notches below the caliber quarterback that Palmer has established himself as.

The team struggled to score points, and simply couldn’t win games. Fans were giving up on them.

Chad Ocho Cinco, previously known as a top three wide receiver in the NFL, turned into the sort of wide receiver that would be commonplace around the league, and his numbers were miserable as compared to seasons past.

The Bengals play in a very tough, grind it out type division, AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers (defending champs) and Baltimore Ravens. Playing these two teams twice a year is no easy task.

Entering the 2009 season, the Bengals were more hopeful than they had been the year before. While the team had lost TJ Houshmandzadeh in the off season, the acquisition of veteran receiver LaVaerneus Coles, combined with the emergence of Chris Henry as a newly reliable option, made it seem as if the Bengals might be a halfway decent team again this season.

If the Bengals defense can stay in the middle of the league and not give up too many points – with the Bengals offense – they can compete in every game during the season.

Carson Palmer and Chad Ocho Cinco make one of the best QB WR combination in the NFL. If they are on the same page the Bengals may be a playoff contender. Chad’s antics off the field may be tiresome to most, when the Bengals are winning Ocho Cinco seems to be forgiven.

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