BY OLIVER MAUK

At the beginning of the NFL season, ESPN’s power rankings had the Cincinnati Bengals at number 32–dead last. Many experts thought that it would be a successful season for the Bengals if they got three or four wins. However, at the halfway point of the season, they’ve had six wins, and are currently in the top half of the league in ESPN’s rankings.

The young Cincinnati team is getting the job done with a top ranked defense and key rookie players. Their defense is ranked second in the NFL behind only Baltimore. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer brought in free agents including linebackers Thomas Howard and Manny Lawson. Along with Rey Maualuga, they create a very strong defensive core. It’s not just the defense finding success; it’s the offense as well.

Led by Rookie-of-the-Year candidates Andy Dalton and AJ Green, the Bengals offense has been solid so far this season. Andy Dalton was drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft from TCU, and according to many fans, has been impressive as a starting quarterback so far this season. AJ Green, a wide reciever from the University of Georgia, leads all rookies in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.

Junior Chris Simons is impressed with the first half of the Bengals’ season.

“They are exciting, electrifying, and explosive,” says Simons. His love for the Bengals is, “too big to count,” so naturally he is excited about the rest of the season.

“I think that they will make the playoffs because they have proven that they can win in the final minutes of the game, which shows that they will never quit,” he explains.

Carson Palmer, last year’s quarterback, told the front office of the Bengals at the end of last season that he wanted to be traded. When owner Mike Brown told him that it wouldn’t happen, Palmer threatened to retire. For the first six weeks of the season, Palmer sat at home and didn’t play football, until he got the call in week seven that he had been traded to the Oakland Raiders for two high draft picks.

“It benefitted the Bengals because he wasn’t going to play for us and we got good future draft picks,” states Simons. Simons doesn’t view Palmer with much respect after what he did to the Bengals, so he doesn’t wish him well.

Even if the Bengals fail to make the playoffs this season, fans have a lot to be thankful for. They are a very young team with young players who will develop over time. As the holidays roll around, fans are still hopeful for a postseason appearance from the Bengals. A tough schedule remains this season, but if Andy Dalton can show the same poise he did during the first half, this team should be just fine.

(Stats courtesy of espn.com)