Journal #9:

​The Cincinnati Bengals. I've had a hard time piecing words together for this article, but like the rest of the country, I'm speechless as to what I witnessed on Sunday, or really throughout the entire playoffs. However, I think everybody can agree when I say that at the beginning of these playoffs, I did not doubt that the Tennesse Titans, or whoever they were going to play, would knock the Bengals out in the Divisional Round. Of course, weirder things have happened, and beating the Titans could have been a fluke, but then they go on to beat the Chiefs in overtime. So now everyone is paying attention. 

It is hard to argue that Joe Burrow is the reason for the postseason success. Before taking the field, Bengals Tight End hyped his team up by saying, "Joe was right. Enough of this "Why not us." It is us." This statement proves one thing. Burrow's confidence in his team is contagious, and this confidence has given the Bengals what they needed to not only win their first playoff game since 1990 but to make it to the Super Bowl. 

The Rams, while talented, are not going to have an easy outing against this confident Bengals team. After beating the #1 team in the AFC and the Chiefs, who could have been #1 had they not started slow, the Bengals have done more than enough to prove that they can hang with the big boys also embarrass them. Those sleeping on the Bengals right now need to wake up. 

I want to remind everybody that the LA Rams are comprised of players who found difficulty finding success elsewhere, whereas this Bengals team had to get gritty and find success where they were at. That is the difference going into this Super Bowl. Like I've said about the Dallas Cowboys, players on the Rams feel like they are owed a Super Bowl. Unfortunately, the Rams are sleeping on the Bengals, and I have every reason to believe that this will come back to haunt them.  

Anybody that watched the AFC Championship can agree when I say that was the most fun football game to watch. But, of course, Twitter does a great deal in helping with that (Follow me @DawsonHaywood). Bengals fans have been among the most fans to engage with throughout these playoffs. We should all be excited for the city of Cincinnati going into the Super Bowl. If you are going for LA, you are wrong.