09-15-2020, 03:23 PM
(09-15-2020, 02:45 PM)jason Wrote: The other excuse was every coach not named Marvin Lewis seems to get 2-3 wins per season under Mike Brown.
That's actually a valid observation. If memory serves, only Marvin Lewis and Forrest Gregg had overall winning records as head coach of the Bengals. Not even Sam Wyche or Paul Brown did that. Forrest was a tough guy but what made Marvin *GASP!* a winner? Despite the lack of playoff success I give Marvin much credit for getting the Bengals into the post-season seven times including the amazing "five in a row."
Was it the quarterback? I don't think so. Of the six full seasons Carson Palmer started the Bengals made the playoffs twice. That's one for three. Of the nine full seasons Andy Dalton started the Bengals made the playoffs five times. Thats five for nine; just over half. Maybe the Marvin and Andy combination was more effective at least during the regular season.
What did the Bengals have from 2009-2015 when they made the playoffs every year but one? A defense! Whether run by Mike Zimmer or Paul Guenther, the defense was far better than any time in the rest of the Marvin Lewis years. From 2003 - 2007, the defense was very bad. When Mike Zimmer came things changed quickly.
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)