NFL Predictions 2018: Best-case scenario for all 32 teams

By Randy Gurzi | Aug 25, 2018

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: A view of the Vince Lombardi trophy after the Philadelphia Eagles 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41-33. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 31: Head coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals: Average at best

The Cincinnati Bengals had a nice run with head coach Marvin Lewis under the headset. They had winning records five seasons in a row from 2011-2015, including double-digit wins for all but the first season of that stretch. That was an exception to the rule for the rest of his career, which has been pretty mundane.

In eight of Lewis’s 15 years as a coach, the team has finished at .500 or worse. In the seven winning seasons he had, they went one-and-done in the playoffs. Counting that 0-7 postseason record, Lewis is just 125-119 even with that five-season stretch of success.

The past two seasons, they’ve lost nine games and Lewis was supposedly ready to move on. Instead of that happening, the Bengals extended his contract and will keep letting him call the shots.

With him there, this team has become complacent. Quarterback Andy Dalton lacks the fire needed to get the offense going and they’re too undisciplined on defense. This season won’t be great for the Bengals and at best, they’re a .500 ball club.

Even if they do squeak out a couple extra wins and somehow find the postseason, they won’t be winning any of those games as long as Lewis is the boss. That means their best case scenario would be to see Lewis and the front office finally come to an agreement to part ways after 2018.

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