As Super Bowl LVI approaches this Sunday, many Cincinnati Bengals fans around Ohio prepare for the upcoming game and look back on their historic season. Fans are full of excitement and are ready to celebrate the big day.

Prior to this season the last time the Cincinnati Bengals won a playoff game was in 1991. The Bengals have been to the Super Bowl two times and lost both times. The extended drought and all-time record of 373 wins, 459 losses, and 5 ties have made the Bengals somewhat the laughingstock of the NFL.

This year, however, the Bengals won the AFC North with a regular-season record of 10-7, and have been dominating the postseason. Because of this historical season many Bengals fans feel they are back.

“For the first time since 2006, it’s been fun,” lifelong Bengals fan Adam Teeters said. “This year has been no pressure, just fun, obviously including these playoffs. Plus with their youth, it gives you hope for what the future could be.”

Led by an extremely talented and young Joe Burrow, Bengals fans actually have some hope going into this game. However, the Los Angeles Rams are just as talented.

Many believe that the Bengals will come out on top because of Joe Burrow and his elite caliber of play. Burrow has been the best-rated post reason quarterback.

“They call him Joey Franchise for a reason, his calm and collected play just makes him a great QB,” superfan Ben Lonzo said.

For the foreseeable future, the Bengals will be a great team, and a Super Bowl win would mean a lot for the organization and fans in Ohio.

“For the state of Ohio, it would again put us on the map as one of the greatest states for sports,” Bengals fan Christian Hilton said. “Also, it would show how we run the AFC North.” 

Millions of people will be watching this Sunday and celebrations will occur nationwide.

“I plan on celebrating with my family and strictly Bengals fans,” Hilton said. 

On top of this because of their scarce Super Bowl appearances, many Cincinnati schools have received Monday off in order to ensure that the game is watched and their team is supported.

The Bengals are 4.5 point underdogs, but many in the state of Ohio feel they will come out on top and they are here to celebrate with them.

“My brain (and all the pain of Bengals history stored inside) says Rams 21-17,” Teeters predicted. “My heart says Bengals 31-24.”