Cincinnati Bengals: Marvin Lewis on hot seat?
By Sheikh Uddin
Over the past couple of years, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis’ contract has been extended each year. Will he have to prove that he deserves another chance this season?
Marvin Lewis has been considered one of the more hot and cold coaches in the NFL. Lewis has taken the Bengals to the playoffs five times out of the last six years. Although that’s quite an accomplishment for a coach, Lewis and the Bengals haven’t translated those playoff visits to anything at all.
The Bengals lost every single time in those five visits to the playoffs. The recent being the most painful. After appearing the Bengals would win it, the “Mental Breakdown” occurred. Many believed that Lewis would be fired or would’ve stepped down after that crazy and sad finish but he is still here.
Fans were surprised to find out that Marvin Lewis has yet to be given a contract extension. According to Cincinnati.com, a report stated that Lewis himself wasn’t expecting a contract extension before the new season started.
Lame Duck Year?
This will be the first year that Lewis is unlikely to start the year with an extension of some sort. As portrayed in past years, he would’ve gotten an extension by now or before the season starts. He’s been a winning coach for the past couple of seasons but the recent 6-9-1 campaign has left some wanting more. Bengals fans have been scratching their heads and waiting for that one day their favorite NFL team would win a Super Bowl or even a playoff game.
Lewis has been heavily scrutinized. For some, that makes sense and yet it doesn’t. Although some of the blame for the lack of playoff wins in the past decade should go on Lewis, all of it wasn’t his fault. It all starts at the top with Mike Brown, the owner. If Brown wants to win, there are actions that could be taken to make it easier for Marvin. I don’t want to say that spending big in free agency is always good. But, spending some every now and then doesn’t hurt at all.
Now, switching back to Lewis, much of the blame can fall on him. As portrayed in the 2016 playoff game, the Bengals had the win in the bag. But, once Jeremy Hill fumbled, the team went into chaos. Every Bengals fan knows what happened after the fumble, the Vontaze Burfict hit and Pacman foul, etc. Many jumped on the bandwagon of blaming it on Lewis for not being able to control his team in the brightest moments.
Pressure to Succeed: Good or Bad?
Under Lewis, the Bengals will need to make the playoffs and make some noise in the upcoming season. But, if Lewis wants another contract extension, he will most likely need to win a postseason game. There’s good and bad pressure on Lewis this year.
The good pressure? He’s being forced to succeed this season. He was never forced to do anything in his head coaching career. This will definitely be a tough year for him, after a losing season. Lewis will be expected to have Cincinnati in contention for the playoffs, after losing valuable veterans.
The bad pressure on Lewis, in the upcoming season, is still quite unknown. As fans of the Bengals, we don’t know if Lewis is capable of greatness when under pressure. No, I’m not talking about calling timeouts in clutch moments or getting the referee’s attention in telling them the other team had too many men on the field. I’m talking about succeeding. Getting somewhere in the season.
Bengals fans–and players as well–have been longing for the end of the playoff drought. But, Marvin will have to push through the adversity and prove that he deserves to stay as head coach.