Despite loss, Bengals have strong core

At the beginning of the season, many thought that the Bengals would have trouble winning three games. They ended up exceeding expectations by winning nine and making the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Cincinnati's surprising season ended Saturday with a 31-10 loss to Houston in an AFC wild-card game, extending the Bengals' playoff winning drought to 21 years and counting. The key now though going into the offseason is if they can build on this and make back-to-back playoff trips for the first time in 30 years. "There are a lot of guys who need to take this experience and build on it," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "We have to go beyond this. We have to win games in the division." NOTES, QUOTESWHAT WENT RIGHT: The offense has a good foundation with Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. Dalton and Green combined for 62 catches for 1,002 yards and six touchdowns. According to STATS Inc., the catches and yards were the most by a rookie quarterback-receiver duo in at least the last 30 years. "We're going to be like this every year when it comes to fighting for a playoff berth," Green said "We just have to keep working and keep getting better. Andy and I are just scratching the surface." Dalton became the first rookie quarterback to throw at least 20 touchdown passes and lead his team to nine wins. There were very few times he was fazed and he showed the poise of a veteran despite the fact that he was a rookie. Green gave the Bengals a deep threat that they were lacking. He tied for the league lead in receptions over 40 yards with 11. One of the key reasons for the success was the play of the offensive line, which allowed just 25 sacks. After struggling to get any semblance of a pass rush the past three years, the Bengals got 45 sacks this season, which was the most in Lewis' tenure. The main reason for that goes to a deep and experienced defensive line that most games went eight deep. Second-year defensive tackle Geno Atkins led the way with 7.5 sacks and defensive end Jonathan Fanene set a career high with 6.5. WHAT WENT WRONG: Lack of quality depth in the secondary again proved to be a hindrance, especially when Leon Hall went down for the season with an Achilles injury. The Bengals carried only four cornerbacks for most of the season and after Hall went down it was only a three-man rotation with Nate Clements, Adam Jones and Kelly Jennings. Run defense over the last nine games was shoddy as Cincinnati gave up an average of 125 yards over that span and in all but two games, teams ran for 100 yards or more. Middle linebacker Rey Maualuga was too often out of position. The lack of a second receiver stepping up hurt. The absence of wide receiver Jordan Shipley really showed over the second half of the season as there wasn't a consistent short to medium route guy to take the pressure off Green. Tight end Jermaine Gresham could have been the guy to stretch the field, but often had to stay inside on routes. STRATEGY AND PERSONNELPLAYER NOTES --RB Cedric Benson had seven carries for 14 yards in the playoff loss to Houston, which were his lowest totals as a starter in his four years with the Bengals. --S Reggie Nelson led the Bengals in tackles with six along with a sack, tackle for loss and quarterback hit. --S Taylor Mays missed his second straight game due to a hamstring injury. --K Thomas Weber has been signed to a futures contract. Weber was in camp last season but was released. --K Mike Nugent, who had missed only two field goals in the first 14 games, missed four in the last three.