The Cincinnati Bengals looked to be a sinking ship for much of the season, but would seem to have their spirits buoyed by bringing some ill tidings for their rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. Cincinnati was able to sabotage the Ravens’ postseason ambitions by handing them a loss in the season finale with a fourth-and-12 49-yard touchdown for the go-ahead score with under a minute to play. They just announced a two-year extension for their long-tenured and long-suffering head coach.
Lewis did finish the season well. What looked like a great curtain call to a long run in Cincinnati turned into two more seasons on the job. The Bengals beat the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens in back-to-back weeks, finishing both teams’ playoff hopes. It was impressive.
While it’s a shocking move, considering earlier reports that he’d be out, it might not be the worst one for the Bengals. Lewis’ seven postseason appearances in 15 seasons matches how many times the Bengals made the playoffs in the first 35 years of the franchise’s existence. There are a decent amount of openings this offseason, and the Bengals’ job wouldn’t have been at the top of the list for most candidates. Instead of hiring the fourth or fifth best candidate on the market, the Bengals stuck with what they knew, even though Lewis has failed to make the playoffs the past two seasons.
"My family and I are very grateful for the opportunity to stay in Cincinnati and continue my career with the Bengals," Lewis said in a written statement. "My job is to win a world championship. We have a talented roster full of veteran leaders and emerging young stars, and I am committed to making the necessary improvements to put this team in the best position to win."
This season ended on a high note for the Bengals, however, with quarterback Andy Dalton's fourth-down, final-minute touchdown pass Sunday in Baltimore that knocked the rival Ravens from the AFC playoffs and secured a wild-card spot for the Buffalo Bills.
The expectation next season will be for Lewis and Dalton to get the Bengals back into the playoffs. And maybe, just maybe one of these years, they actually will win a postseason game together.
