Though grudging, national media recognizes Bengals turnaround

CINCINNATI - It is nestled adjacent in letters to the editor. A publishing equivalent of a courtesy flush. And only seven inches from a notice on how to avoid the intrusion of their annual swimsuit issue.

In short, it probably isn't for mass consumption. But there it is, four pages into this week's Sports Illustrated: A color shot of Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton in relation to a FEEDBACK feature: What is your bold sports prediction for 2012?

It isn't the front page. Nor any other high profile section but IT IS THERE! Tacit recognition that pro football is back in Cincinnati. First item no less.

Ben Williams (@BWill45): Andy Dalton and the Bengals will beat the Texans and win their first playoff game in 21 years.

And somehow Sports Illustrated cares. Only Rick Santorum can boast of a similar resurrection since this time last year. It was Jan. 4 of 2011 that the well chronicled Mike Brown-Marvin Lewis news conference , cleverly disguised as a remark of "Ice Station Zebra", captivated / bored sports followers.

Little was accomplished that day other than my colleague Brad Johansen scuttling his role as Bengals play by play announcer for the gutsy, probing, broadsides he leveled at the Bengals president. To his everlasting credit, Brad squeezed Brown's shoes until the eyelets yelped.

Seemingly little changed in the aftermath other than the organization's broadcast team.

But somewhere in the bowels of Paul Brown Stadium, there was a stirring for change. Glacial though it may have been. It started with the change out of offensive coordinators . Carried through the draft and free agent signings and here we are just a year removed from a relative non event with one of the biggest Cincinnati sports moments in a generation. The Bengals are in the playoffs! And no less than Peter King, "Sports Illustrated's" pro football guru has ordained Mike Brown, the NFL Executive of the year.

Jay Gruden, who Carson Palmer referred to as a 'clown' when told of his hiring, simplified the offense, achieved a Zen-like state of one-ness with Dalton and Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green , hooked the offensive line to Andrew Whitworth and voila!

The offense and special teams will be the most tested divisions of Lewis' army come Saturday in Houston. The defense is still chapped about the last minute game-winning drive that yielded a Texans win at PBS on Dec. 11 . They will take care of their business.

Dalton and company though must have a clean game start to finish to advance in the playoffs.

And they will. Bengals 21, Texans 7.