The Bengals had a lot of promise before the season. They were coming off a strong 10-6 2009 and had fixed their only huge need, adding more weapons for Carson Palmer, by signing Terrell Owens and drafting Jermaine Gresham and Jordan Shipley, to compliment a strong running game and defense. However, what they didn’t plan on was a ton of injuries on defense and that Carson Palmer simply wasn’t the same quarterback he was in 2006 or so before he got hurt, no matter how many weapons he had.

At one point, this team lost 10 straight games. They ended the season the way they started it, by winning 2 of 3 and securing a 4-12 record. There was a lot of positives in their last 3 games. Carson Palmer played well with the exception of a subpar game against a good Baltimore team in Baltimore week 17. The receiving corps showed new life with Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens out and young receivers Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell playing well and with a lot of heart.

In a bit of a surprise move, Marvin Lewis, whose contract ended after the 2010 season, was brought back for the 9^th straight season. Lewis loves Carson Palmer so it looks like Palmer, who threw 20 picks, will be the starter next season, but that’s not to say that this team won’t add a developmental quarterback behind him. This, of course, is only if they don’t feel that Palmer’s backup and younger brother Jordan Palmer isn’t the quarterback of the future. The younger Palmer is a bit of an unknown with only 15 career passing attempts.

The Bengals have the 4^th pick in the draft and will likely go defense, with someone like DaJuan Bowers or Nick Fairley, or they could go AJ Green if they feel they need an elite receiver for Palmer to throw to. With a healthy defense, this team feels like it can compete for a playoff spot next season, but I think this team will only go as far as Carson Palmer can take this offseason and I’m not sure he can take this team to the playoffs.