With The First Pick
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5 Reasons Bengals should fire Marvin Lewis

By Luke Drage

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 11: Head coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals reacts in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paul Brown Stadium on August 11, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 11: Head coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals reacts in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paul Brown Stadium on August 11, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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5. Frustration is setting in for Bengals

In 2016, Lewis had his first losing season since 2010 and the Bengals missed the playoffs. The offense looked lethargic without Hue Jackson, who joined Cleveland, and it looks like more of the same in 2017.

Cincy hasn’t scored a touchdown this season and looked offensively limited in both games so far. They were shut out by a swarming Ravens defense and struggled to put drives together against Houston on Thursday night.

Even more concerning was the visible frustration on players faces after the game, including star wideout AJ Green.

Must Read: Texans at Bengals: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The firing of Zampese was necessary for Lewis’ future. If the offense continues to stagnate, despite the presence of high level receiving weapons and arguably the deepest backfield in football, it will be another sub 500 season.

With that, Lewis’ job would be under huge strain and it would only be Mike Brown’s loyalty that keeps him in Cincinnati. But truthfully, it might just be the right time to make a change.

Lewis will get another job because of the longevity of his success and he deserves one. He has delivered a period of relative success to a previously struggling franchise and is still a good coach.

5 straight playoff appearances, despite the absence of a win, is nothing to scoff at but there has to be some further ambition. The notion that the Bengals would fare any differently next time around in a playoff matchup holds no real substance. The franchise should be looking at alternatives going forward.

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2017 already looks like a lost year with an 0-2 start and a trip to Green Bay next week. Starting with three straight losses would nigh on end the season there and then.

Only 3 teams since 1990 have begun the year 0-3 and managed to reach the playoffs. With further road trips to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Denver, Tennessee and Minnesota, the outlook is bleak.

With Dalton struggling it’s hard to say if any coach would do better. But, the Bengals simply cannot continue to reward mediocrity in Lewis’ case. Playoff wins come at a premium and they have to find someone who can deliver that.

A losing season in 2017 should see the end of the Marvin Lewis tenure in Cincinnati.

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