Marvin Lewis Wastes Cincinnati's Challenges In The Second Quarter

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis quickly depleted both challenges during the second quarter on Saturday against the Houston Texans. With 10:44 remaining in the second quarter, Bengals running back Cedric Benson fell inches short of the first down marker on second and two. Lewis challenged it, believing that Benson had picked up the first down at Cincinnati's 30-yard line -- and momentarily it appeared so live.

However Benson's elbow touched the ground inches short of the first down marker. On the next play Dalton takes the handoff and registers the first down on a quarterback sneak.

With one challenge down, no matter what happens throughout the rest of the game, his next challenge will be the final one. Does Lewis hold onto his final challenge for one of the more critical moments of the game?

No.

He uses it when Houston had possession on third and four from their own 37-yard line with 5:09 remaining. Texans tight end Owen Daniels hauled in an eight-yard reception with Thomas Howard successfully ripping out the football. After Lewis challenged the play, Daniels obviously had control of the football, down by contact and the Bengals have no challenges remaining in the game.

Coming into the game, Lewis had only challenged three plays during the entire 2011 regular season, overturning two.