/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51194569/607551190.0.jpg)
Marvin Lewis came under fire after the Bengals’ Wild Card loss in January 2016, as many fans believed he was simply not the answer for Cincinnati’s coaching staff moving forward. It’s hard to blame anyone for feeling this way, as the Bengals have lost in the Wild Card round in five consecutive years. Meanwhile, former coordinators Jay Gruden and Mike Zimmer both took their teams to the playoffs last year, and Zimmer currently looks like a Coach of the Year candidate.
That said, Lewis' Bengals have a 2-2 record despite playing the first quarter of the season without Tyler Eifert and the first three games without Vontaze Burfict — all of this while acclimating to a new coaching staff in the process.
Through four games, the Bengals’ offense — led by new offensive coordinator Ken Zampese and new quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor — ranks 11th in total offense, third in passing and 28th in rushing. Andy Dalton has been sacked 13 times in the past four games, while running backs Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard are averaging 3.8 and 2.7 yards per carry, respectively. An inefficient red zone offense, seemingly due more to a lack of execution than poor coaching, has limited the Bengals to just 19.5 points per game, which ranks 24th in the NFL.
The defense — under tutelage of new coaches Kevin Coyle (defensive backs), Jacob Burney (defensive line) and Jim Haslett (linebackers)— ranks ninth in total defense, allowing just 322.8 yards per game. The defense ranks 10th in passing and 14th in rushing, but Cincinnati has yet to allow a rushing touchdown. The defense has allowed just 20.5 points per game, which ranks 13th among all teams.
So what do you think? Do you approve of the job Lewis has done through four games of the 2016 season?