Bengals leapfrog Browns, rest of AFC in remarkable season

In some ways, the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals are more than just rivals.They are family.Siblings, even.The Browns and Bengals share a father – Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown. Brown founded both franchises, and the similarities between the two teams remain striking, right down to the color schemes and uniforms.The relationship between the Browns and Bengals often has been contentious. After all, it was Browns' owner Art Modell who fired Brown. Many Browns fans never forgave Modell for that. The Bengals and Browns were fierce rivals for decades, but the juice of the rivalry has waned.Brown died in 1991. Modell moved the Cleveland franchise to Baltimore in 1995. When the expansion Browns were born in 1999, most fans were too concerned with the Ravens and the Steelers to be bothered with the lowly Bengals, who hadn't had a winning season in 10 years.For most of the 23 years since, the Browns and Bengals have been rivals, but not bitter ones. Neither team was good enough to be hated.A year ago, the Browns appeared poised to change that. They made the postseason, won a playoff game in Pittsburgh, and came within a touchdown of making the AFC championship game.Before the 2021 season, the Browns were considered by many to be a contender for the Super BowlAfter years of futility, an Ohio football team was poised for the Big Game.Well, the Super Bowl is Sunday, and there is an Ohio team playing in it.Just not the one some of us thought, or hoped for.The Bengals have had a stunning season. After going 4-11-1 in 2020, Cincinnati was energized by Heisman-Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow, who was the catalyst as the Bengals leapfrogged the Browns and everyone else in the AFC.I've seen great young quarterbacks before, but Burrow – who played a brilliant season at LSU after graduating – but not starting – at Ohio State, tops the list.It's not just the stats. It's that he has a knack for making big plays just when his team needs them. His throw to Ja'Marr Chase in the final seconds against Tennessee – setting up a game-winning field goal in the divisional round – is a perfect example.It's easy to marvel, and perhaps even pull for, the Bengals during this postseason.Especially when you consider who Cincinnati is playing Sunday.The Los Angeles Rams are essentially the NFL's version of the 1 percent. They went all in this season, trading for Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller, and sporting a glitzy squad in a glitzy stadium full of fans who probably would rather be surfing.And then of course there's Odell Beckham, who was pouting on the Browns before forcing his way out. Now, Browns fans have had to see countless puff pieces on how great OBJ has been in LA, knowing what he was supposed to do in Cleveland, but never did.In theory, it should be easy to cheer for the Bengals. Most Browns fans even have friends and family who cheer for the Bengals. We should be happy for them and support them, right?Well, no.Sorry, but this was supposed to be the Browns' season. Cleveland went through a half decade of rebuilding, and yet the team still feels incomplete. The Bengals got a pick, got a quarterback, and are now in the Super Bowl.Yes, the Bengals and Browns are related. But the Bengals are still the Browns rivals.I'm not rooting for the Bengals.I'm not rooting for anyone. You can feel good for your family. Just not your family's team.