Bengals, Marvin Lewis agree to one-year extension

The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to a one-year extension with Marvin Lewis for the second straight season.

Despite the way their season ended, the Cincinnati Bengals are keeping Marvin Lewis around for another year. This is according to Michael Silver of the NFL Network. It’s the second consecutive offseason that Lewis has signed a one-year extension.

While Lewis has taken the Bengals to the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, they have yet to do anything past the first round. Of course, the Bengals are a franchise that has become accustomed to playoff failure, and yet even so, last year’s late-game meltdown at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers is among the worst playoff losses in NFL history.

Their loss to the Colts the season before that was a bit more forgivable, and it was easier to understand giving him an extension after that. After the Steelers loss, though, it’s a bit harder to comprehend. That being said, his success during the regular season can’t be overlooked, and their 12-4 record was the best they’ve had under Lewis. So even though the Bengals have kept Marvin Lewis on for another year, it’s not a long-term commitment, and this is clearly a prove-it season for him as the ownership group must be getting increasingly impatient with him.

Another factor in this decision is likely that there were no suitable candidates to take over, especially after offensive coordinator Hue Jackson left to go to the Cleveland Browns. Despite the offensive talent that the Bengals possess, anyone who has to take over for Marvin Lewis will have a tough job replicating the success that he has achieved with the team.

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