I can’t remember being so excited after a Bengals win. 

I mean, really excited.  In like, over two years it seems.  If you think about, every single win in 2009 came with this caveat: “Yeah but the Bengals looked ugly winning the game.”  In 2008, it was a whole heck of a lot of losing before we had any wins, and then when we did actually start winning it was just a great big collective Shrug of the Shoulder.

But there’s a huge problem with this win over the San Diego Chargers:  Does it even mean anything?

Currently, a nickle and this win got us a Hot Cup of JACK (pause, straigthening my belt) SQUAT!! (thanks, Mr. Foley)  All it did was give the Panthers the number draft pick, and it kicked the Chargers out of the playoffs.  I believe our draft position stayed at a steady # tres, too. 

But what about the future?

The Super Happy Fun Time and Overly Sanguine Bengals Fan thinks these thoughts:

1.  Jermone Simpson (6 catches, 2 TDs, and over 100 yards receiving) + Andre Caldwell + Jordan Shipley = the dominant receiving corps for the next five years.  We can win with these guys, and they are a hundred times better than T.Ocho because they, most importantly, are #1:  Not Divas.  #2.  Talented as Hell.  #3.  Hungry as Hell to Prove Themselves.  #4.  Really Fast Em-Effers.  #5.  Not Aretha Franklins.  #6.  Cheap as Hell. 

2.  You See!  Carson Palmer is a great quarterback!  Carson Palmer wont’ have to worry about placating any egos because these guys don’t have egos to begin with.  Simpson and Caldwell have been humbled by their perpetual and perplexing benching. Palmer will focus on who’s open rather than who hasn’t had the ball lately.  This, along with getting a new OC, is the key for Palmer’s resurgance in 2011.  I’m totally excited!

Mr. Oscar the Ill-Tempered Bass Cynic, however, thinks this:

1.  One Good Game by Palmer does not negate a season of awful throwes and pick-6′s.  We still need to draft a QB who will eventualy replace Palmer.

2.  Defenses will figure out Simpson and Caldwell.  Teams don’t have much film on them.  This is why they have been so successful.  Once teams have film on them, we will be screwed next year. 

I hate being pessimisitc, so I’m always in the former category of Mr. Super Happy Optimistic Dude.  But the excitement is severely tempered (not ill-tempered).  I mean, it’s just one game.  Simpson won’t have two TD catches every game, and Palmer’s not going to have a 157.whatever QB rating each game. 

All this game has done is give Bengals Fans both melancholy and infinite torture for the offseason.  People are going to obsess over whether or not Simpson and Caldwell are really the Answers at receiver.  Can the offense look like this every game?  And that doesn’t even include questions about everything else under the sun: Will Marvin Lewis be back? (probably not)  Jonathon Joseph?  (hopefully, if they cut Chad and T.O., then they’ll have plenty to resign him)  Cedric Benson?  (up in the air)  Chad Ochocinco?  (just let him go, man)

Most fans hope Mike Zimmer will mercifully take over Lewis’s job, but does Zimmer actually want to?  Lots of questions to agonize over. 

I hope Sunday’s game is a sign of things to come.  And Charlie Brown always hoped Lucy would keep the football steady.