For the Cincinnati Bengals, it could be challenging to keep the same chip on their shoulders after sweeping through the AFC North, posting double-digit wins, and making the playoffs last season for the first time in four years.

But the Bengals are relying on their awful feeling after January's 24-14, playoff loss to the New York Jets to keep their edge this offseason.

"Just think back to the last game of the season. It's not that hard," Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer said of the team's motivation. "I think a lot of people on this team have a chip on their shoulder about the way the year went, with the way things finished off. That's one thing that's kind of hanging over our heads that can push us when we're working out with each other and trying to get better."

New York pounded the Bengals twice at the end of last season. Cincinnati also lost, 37-0, in the regular-season finale, where the team rested its starters in the second half, in addition to the postseason defeat to the Jets.

After a 9-3 start, the Bengals finished the year losing four of their final five games.

Earlier this week the AFC North blog examined whether Cincinnati can post back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 28 years. But in order to do it, the Bengals have to regain the momentum they lost at the end of the 2009 season.

"We still felt like at the end of the season in December we really just took a turn for the worst," Bengals safety Chris Crocker said. "We weren't hitting on all cylinders like we were early and during the middle part of the season. So I think a lot of guys are anxious to get back."