Bengals fans with paper bags depicting the Three Stooges (with Moe being replaced by Mike, as in Mike Brown) sat in silent protest to the losing ways of their team at Cinergy Field in this file photo. (Michael E. Keating/file photo) | ZOOM |

The Reds' 6-13 start has fans wondering in which direction the franchise is going. For pessimists, it's starting to look like a familiar road - one leading down the street to Paul Brown Stadium.

So, is it time to slap the stripes - and a whole new stigma - on our men in red? Has this season's rough start hit Bengal-esque proportions? The similarities, much like the box scores, are staggering. The Enquirer takes a closer look.

Great Expectations

Bengals: A pair of wins followed by a pair of losses in the preseason.

Reds: A 13-18 spring training record.

Spankin' new stadium debut

Bengals: Lost to lowly second-year Browns in 2000.

Reds: Pounded by Pirates 10-1 in 2003.

National TV

Bengals: Blown out by Falcons 30-3 after trailing 20-0 early.

Reds: Behind 6-0 after 11/2 innings of opener. And they're off!

The start

Bengals: 0-7, worst since 1994.

Reds: 6-13, worst since 1986.

Outscored in early going

Bengals: 211-75 (7 games).

Reds: 144-90 (19 games).

Offensive rank

Bengals: 32nd, last in scoring.

Reds: 28th of 30 (16th).

Defensive rank

Bengals: 28th in points allowed.

Reds: 30th pitching (6.71); 30th fielding (25 errors).

Special teams

Bengals: Peter Warrick tries to field punt inside his own 10, fumbles.

Reds: Reggie Taylor misses sign for squeeze bunt, leaving Adam Dunn a dead duck.

Sad start

Bengals: In their first six games, the Bengals led for just two minutes, 30 seconds.

Reds: Led for three innings in season-opening, three-game sweep to Pirates.

High point

Bengals: A 38-3 victory over expansion Houston Texans.

Reds: An 11-3 victory over the lovable loser Cubs.

Low point

Bengals: Lost next six games. Take your pick.

Reds: Lost next three games to the Cubs by a combined 37-8.

Bonehead plays

Bengals: QB Gus Frerotte's ill-fated left-handed pass attempt, returned for a TD.

Reds: Brandon Larson falling down attempting to field ground balls.

The shakeup

Bengals: Frerotte replaced by Jon Kitna.

Reds: Josias Manzanillo, Jimmy Anderson, Larson voted off the island (Puerto Rico).

The head man

Bengals: Head coach Dick LeBeau is fired, Marvin Lewis hired.

Reds: Manager Bob Boone gets vote of confidence.

The airwaves

Bengals: "Uuhhhhhhhh-oohhhhhhhh" - Dave Lapham

Reds: "And there we go again." - Marty Brennaman.

The predictions

Bengals: "Thirteen and three? You're laughing. I'm not." - John Kitna, 2002 training camp

Reds: "The upside on Larson is we think he can hit 40 home runs." - Bob Boone, offseason

Disgruntled ex-players

Bengals: Takeo Spikes.

Reds: Dmitri Young, Pokey Reese still bitter.

Payrolls

Bengals: Rolling in NFL-TV generated dough, but always under the salary cap.

Reds: Middle of the pack, but $23.6 million devoted to Griffey and Larkin.

Owner

Bengals: No longer hear a word from him.

Reds: Never hear a word from him.

General manager

Bengals: That cool fedora (Mike Brown)

Reds: Bad hats, and pants

Postseason

Bengals: Ha! Actually, made playoffs in 1990.

Reds: Playoffs in 1994, 1995, World Series champs in 1990.

Wait til next year

Bengals: And with the first pick in the National Football league draft . . .

Reds: The Dayton Dragons pitching staff

The skinny

Bengals: 2-14, but real confident.

Reds: On pace for 59-103.