If the Bengals lose today, this will be Marvin Lewis' record:- 56-56-1
- 2 playoff appearances in 7 years
- 0 playoff wins
People have flipped out at the suggestion of firing Lewis after a division-winning season. But his body of work, over the course of seven years, is mediocre at best. Do the Bengals want to be an elite team - or do they want to be the type of team which goes to the playoffs two years out of every seven, without any playoff wins? Or does Marvin Lewis' recent success justify the risk of further mediocrity?
There would be more reason to defend Lewis if the Bengals were playing great right now, but they're not. This is a team that makes an infuriating amout of mental errors, and commits way too many penalties, even when they're winning. A mental error cost the Bengals a chance at overtime recently against the Chargers, just for example. And what was th deal with last week's game?
It's all academic, as Lewis will be retained regardless of what happens this afternoon. But from one person's point of view, Lewis should be coaching today like his job depends on it.
Go Bengals!
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UPDATE: not to beat a dead horse, but: 1) Marvin made two unsuccessful challenges in the first quarter, exhausting all the challenges for the game, 2) burned the third timeout when the play clock was running low, and then 3) had no timeouts left late in the half to kill the clock and get one final drive. Several more false starts. And a 14-7 deficit at the half. But Marvin Lewis is great - let's keep him forever.
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Dear Bengals, I caught the bug in 1989 and have been a loyal fan ever since, sticking with you through the good times and the bad. But I can't take any more. It's over. Best wishes going forward - and you'll need it with Marvin Lewis as your coach.
Go Colts! DJ
In my opinion, the Bengals will be the Bengals as long as Brown keeps getting involved. Brown needs to back away and let the coach… coach. We then may have a Great Bengals Team… Go Bengals…
ReplyDeleteA Bengals coach has better job security than a Gov. worker.
ReplyDeleteBangals will win today and shut Rex Ryan up.
Please explain to me why people keep insisting that Palmer is an "elite" nfl quarterback? OK, he has been hurt in the past, I give him that, but what has he proven? During this game, he proved that he can't throw a pass down low enough for his guys to catch. He can't really run, and he was awful at reading the defense. Not to mention the offensive play calling was "novice" in nature.
ReplyDeleteShould the Bengals be drafting WR and QB?
Well that was disappointing. Our hopes dashed. However we sure did not expect the Bengals to be in playoffs when the season started & how many times will Grahm miss 2 field goals of less than 40 yards.
ReplyDeleteWe should celebrate the great season they gave us.
The team is DOOMED next season. I believe over half the team is currently in the final year of their contract. The failure to alter the CBA may keep a few of those players, but Roy Williams, Tank Johnson, Shane Graham - they're all likely gone next year (after today, Graham is not getting franchised again!). The Bengals need to draft a deep threat WR, a safety, and YES, a QB (Jevan Snead in the 4th round would be nice). Palmer needs to realize he can't just honeymoon on the patience of the team with his issues. Today's effort was absolutely pathetic. There was at MINIMUM 12 points left on the field today, if not 28 (fumble on the opening drive, two drives where there were missed FGs, the last drive where they got it inside the 20 and then penalties and sacks took them back into their own territory, and even throw in the INT by Revis if you would like to make it 15 points because they were moving the ball well right then, too!). Just absolutely pathetic. Cedric Benson has got to be pissed that he put forth such huge stats on a run defense that was expected to shut him down and the Bengals still get beat and embarrassed. PATHETIC!
ReplyDeleteWell, You know where I stand. And I'm serious - I'm not even going to turn on a Bengals game again so long as Marvin Lewis is the coach. Who do you blame for all those meltdowns listed above?
ReplyDeleteOn top of that, what happened to our QB? He has a gun but refuses to use it. This was the year to make a run, and they just blew it. Bye bye.
DJ you have 6 months to get over this -- :)
ReplyDeleteWe look forward to your Bengal commentaries during the 2010 season.
Add in a TE. That's another must. However, they will do as they always do in the draft: refuse to use a high pick on a TE that should be around in 15 picks or so, and maybe by the time they pick again, but then just miss getting him. Then again, there are very few TEs that I believe should go high in the draft, so I don't get too worked up over it.
ReplyDeleteNo - I really don't think so. Not willing to wait 5 more years just to have Marvin Lewis ruin my day again. I think it's a good time to cut them loose.
ReplyDeleteSo sad.
That was a very winnable game, poor passing, average defense, blown assignments,receivers that can't get open, penalties, missed tackles killed them.
ReplyDeleteI would try like hell to sign Benson and Zimmer to extensions ASAP.
I think marvin lewis,s job depended on this game.I think he might be gone this year.
ReplyDeleteYou’re right it was a winnable game.
ReplyDeleteThe Bengals have several problems in my opinion. Palmer has never been the same since the Steelers hurt him a couple years ago. They lost Chris Henry, whether you liked him or not, he was good. Marvin Lewis, or any coach in the future (or past), has very little control as long as Mike Brown wants a “puppet”, Brown has to let the coach, coach. And finally too many injuries sitting out.
However that said, The Bengals gave us a season to root for, when was the last time they kept us on the edge of our seat like they did this season…