My record as a Cincinnati Bengals fan: 92-162-1

It's 1993 and it's my first year as a Bengals fan. Mind you, I am still keeping an eye on my Detroit Lions but I purchase some black and orange gear and head to Riverfront Stadium for a few games this season--I do not see a winner in person as the team goes 3-13. This is also the year, my disdain for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns begins--both teams swept the Bengals in 1993.

Nope, not a typo. The Bengals go 3-13 again. There was some hope this year: starting with the NFL Draft when the Bengals took Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson from OSU. Other good news that season: Doug Pelfrey sets a franchise record for most field goals in one game (6) and Carl Pickens had his first 1,000 yard receiving season. Dave Shula hangs strong as the head coach; Mike Brown waiting for the Shula magic to appear.

"Super Bowl, Super Bowl" chants begin with a first game win over the Colts. QB Jeff Blake take the reins and Carl Pickens tears it up in 1995 leading the AFC in touchdowns. We Bengals fans rejoice in the small things in life: Browns go 5-11 in 1995. We are feeling good about things, seven wins...a good start.

It was 1996 and Bengals fans wanted the gold. Six quick losses cost Dave Shula his job and Bruce Coslet takes over and goes 7-2. Big Willie Anderson, a perennial fan favorite, is taken as the Bengals first draft pick this year. Playoffs in 1997, fans ask?

Boomer returns! Fans go nuts for Boomer Esiason. He takes over after a 1-9 start and the team goes 4-1 under his watch. Corey Dillon makes an immediate impression with a 1,000+ yard season, setting a few records along the way. I was at the game en December 4, when Dillon rushed for 246 yards in a game versus the Tennesse Oilers. It was one of the best games of my time as a Bengals fan.

Back to the cellar for us Bengals fans as we go 3-13 under another new QB Neil O'Donnell. One ray of hope, we sweep the Steelers this year probably because O'Donnell knew their playbook (he was their 3rd round draft pick in 1990).

Akili Smith, our #1 draft pick in 1999...save us! Nope, his four-year career with the Bengals: 3-14 (I cannot make this up). But alas, we smile: Browns finish 2-14. Maybe the new stadium will help us? Paul Brown Stadium is under construction.

Hello Paul Brown Stadium! I am so encouraged that I become a season ticket holder with my good friend, Betsy Ross. "You're fired" Mike Brown says to Bruce after three games and taps Dick LeBeau, who by all accounts is a great man. Head coach material, we wonder. Now, back to my Club Level seats, I love the new stadium!

Jon Kitna, Chad Johnson (now known as Chad Ochocinco) and Rudi Johnson join the headlines of 2001. I am not sure what happened during the 2001 Bye Week, but afterwards we go on the skids for a seven-game losing streak. We close the season with wins at the Steelers and Titans, hope abounds.

Gus Frerotte? We become the fourth stop on this journeyman's itinerary. Hop on the bus, Gus...and Dick, we go 2-14. I don't think we even had Christmas in 2002. Next slide...

"In Marvin We Trust" say banners all over downtown Cincinnati. Our first CEO Coach comes in and takes the team and the city by storm with an 8-8 record in his first season. Merchandise sales, tailgate lots and TV ratings soar thanks to Coach Lewis & Crew. And, I almost forgot, we drafted Carson Palmer! So maybe 2002 wasn't so bad.

We go 8-8 and we see the potential of our future on the arm of Carson Palmer with his hot shot receivers Chad and TJ.

Heartbreaker! In Cincinnati, there are THE two sports star injuries that we Cincinnatians talk about: Kenyon Martin's broken leg and Carson Palmer's knee. What a run it was! Steelers go on to continue play in February, whatever.

However, Jon Kitna takes over and does his best in the AFC Wildcard Playoff game that the Steeelers take from us, 31-17.

There were, uh hmm, some off-field distractions in 2006. You may have heard about them (see Chris Henry). Anyways, we start 3-0 with quick wins against the Browns and Steelers. But the Steelers dash our playoff hopes with a 23-17 to close out the season.

The Bengals score 45 points and still lose...to Cleveland who scored 51. This was dumbfounding. The 2007 season was a hard one to watch as a fan, there was so much hope. However, it was fun to watch the high flying attack of Palmer to Chad and TJ, who both had impressive seasons.

It's Week Four and it's Cleveland Week. "Surely," I say to my tailgate buddies, "we, the 0 and 3 Bengals, can beat the 0 and 3 Browns!" Not so fast. About two hours before the game, the announcement came: Carson would not start. God love Ryan Fitzpatrick but he's no Carson Palmer. So did you know that you can have a tie game in the NFL? Tell that to Donovan McNabb too. We win the last three games of the season and Coach Lewis keeps his job.