Like most people that will frequent Bengals fan sites, I have been a Bengals fan my entire life. I suffered through the hell of the nineties and early twenty-first century. I rejoiced when the Bengals finally made it back to the playoffs. I scratched my head last season when the Bengals blew chance after chance to repeat.

This season is already off to a bad start.

Last Monday night's game against the Ravens showed all of Bengals' Nation the Bengals have the defensive tools to play with the big boys, even when the offense has an off night. When that game ended, most Cincinnati fans believed the Bengals could return to prominence in the AFC North.

This week, everybody, from the ESPN talking heads to the Vegas bookmakers, knew with no analysis needed the Bengals would march into Cleveland and smoke the Browns. It was written in stone. Let's start talking Seahawks. The only question was--by how much?

Sunday was a kick in the crotch.

The 'Mr. Hyde' portion of the Bengals defense showed up Sunday and gave up more yards in this game than the Chargers defense did all season in 2006. That may be a slight--and only slight--exaggeration, but my point is clear.

As a Bengals die-hard, I can't take this excitement anymore. Riding the high of one week to be crushed the next is something my old heart is getting too old to take. When will the roller coaster ride end? At least in the old days, I didn't have any expectations.

What--me worry?

The problem has to be Chuck Bresnahan.

I don't know if it's his system as a whole. I don't know if it's his system matched up with the players he has. Whatever it is, it ain't working.

Marvin Lewis has done wonders with this team. He has assembled a top-five offense. When Palmer, Houshmandzadeh and Johnson(s) are hot, no one can stop them. Unfortunately, it seems when they can't be stopped, the defense can't stop others.

How much longer does this have to go on? We let go of Brian Simmons and Tory James. We drafted Jonathon Joseph and Leon Hall. Robert Geathers seems to be developing, as does Landon Johnson. What gives?

I don't know the answer. Unfortunately, neither does Marvin Lewis or Chuck Bresnahan. It be time for a change. Chuck either needs to change the system--or Marvin needs to change Chuck.