Cincinnati Bengals: Whose Seat is Hotter?

May 29, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) stands with head coach Marvin Lewis (right) during organized team activities at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton have taken a lot of criticism from fans, the media, and former players about their unsuccessful attempts to win in the playoffs. The question becomes, if they fail to make it past the first round of the playoffs or even make it to the playoffs, whose seat is hotter?

Marvin Lewis is 0-6 in the playoffs, but only has three seasons with less than eight wins. He has proven that he can get a team to the playoffs and can retain the talent to do so. He manages his players well and seems to have the respect of almost every player. He has a good mind for football and showed in Tampa Bay last season that he can be a game manager. His inability to win in the playoffs has been a problem, and with numerous playing out their contracts in 2015, it is likely “do or die” time.

Andy Dalton is entering his fifth season with the Bengals and after signing a lucrative contract with some major incentives to win, he should be motivated to get the job done. He is 0-4 in the playoffs to this point and his play against the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers may have cost the Bengals a second consecutive AFC North crown and a possible bye week in the playoffs; the Bengals owned the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Denver Broncos in 2014. Last season was the first time his touchdown and interception ratio was as close as it was (19:17), and the first time he did not pass for 20 touchdowns or more in a season. To be fair, his sacks were at a career low and his completion percentage finished as a career high, but is that enough to keep his seat cool?

I have argued that if Lewis would lose his head coaching job, he would make a great general manager and I have hoped, like many, that the Bengals would have moved him into a GM position before Mike Zimmer left. Unfortunately, Lewis’s seat should be burning up as he enters the last year of his contract.

Dalton’s seat should be heating up, and the Bengals should be looking for another direction after losing some control of his receivers, as many were in and out due to injury. He needs to reel in the personality that has become A.J. Green and focus in the offseason on getting himself and Marvin Jones back in sync. It is yet to be seen how hot and how much pressure Dalton is really receiving behind the scenes.

Also, see the link below and decide how hot Paul Guenther’s seat should be after a lackluster 2014 season.

Next: Is/Should Paul Guenther Also on the Hot Seat?

Cincinnati Bengals: Whose Seat is Hotter?

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