Striving for their first playoff win since the 1990’s. The Cincinnati Bengals will host the Las Vegas Raiders in the Wild Card round Saturday. A match-up last November provides a guide for Saturday.

The two teams met in Las Vegas back on November 21st. Just as the Raiders and Bengals go into Saturday with 10-7 records. Both teams went into their November 21st game with 5-4 records. Striving for a turning point early in the second half of the season. After Cincinnati wrapped up the third quarter with a 13-6 lead. A big fourth quarter helped the Bengals secure their 32-13 win over Vegas. Snapping Cincinnati’s two-game losing streak and emerging from their bye week with an energy boost.

Joe Mixon, Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase were key Bengals offensive playmakers that day. Mixon scored two touchdowns in that game. He’s striving to bounce back after being on the COVID-19 reserve list last week. Chase scored a touchdown too, launching an awesome second half to his rookie season. With more consistency after a shaky first half full of dropped passes one game and clutch receptions in another.

On defense, Eli Apple had a clutch fourth quarter interception. All part of a resurgent season for Cincinnati’s defense. A unit Las Vegas would be wise to not underestimate going into Saturday. The Bengals are giving up an average of 350.8 yards and 22.1 points per game so far this season. After giving up 26.5 points and 389.2 yds per game last season. Rookie kicker Evan McPherson was another key playmaker last November 21st. He matched a league record with three 50+ yard field goals.

McPherson, Apple, Burrow and Chase are key players on a team occasionally dubbed “the baby Bengals” during broadcasts. They are among the many star Bengals aged 26 or younger. Few Bengals currently on the roster were with the team for their last playoff game in 2016. For Burrow and Chase this will be their biggest game since winning the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship Game together with LSU Football. With this in mind, the Bengals will need to avoid being overwhelmed by the moment. This Bengals team is mostly faring well in high-profile games this year.

Despite losing to the NFC top seed Green Bay Packers. That game effectively became an overtime kicking contest that got mentioned on last Sunday’s “60 Minutes.” Cincinnati beat a Kansas City Chiefs team striving for their third-consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Clinching the AFC North title as a result of that game. In the AFC North, the Bengals swept the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rather than being overwhelmed by the circumstances. After muddling through a six-year playoff drought. Bengals fans are in a position to savor the circumstances. If the way the 2020’s are going for the world is teaching us anything. It’s to savor joyful moments as much as possible.

Much like Cincinnati Football’s College Football Playoff semifinal game. I’m going into Saturday striving to simply enjoy the moment. Instead of spending the afternoon fending off concerns about the Bengals falling apart. In the ways they’ve fallen apart in past playoff games.

Through a solid game from the Bengals defense. Along with the offensive line ensuring Joe Burrow isn’t getting thrown around like a football. Which is at times akin to a Herculean task for this O-line. To Samaje Perine, Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams stepping up rushing-wise. In case leading running back Joe Mixon struggles early in the game. While Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd and other receivers provide Burrow with many reliable options. The Bengals will be in great shape to finally end their 31-year playoff losing streak.