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The Cincinnati Bengals are
playing a meaningful game in Week 17. So even if they don't end up earning a
playoff berth, Marvin Lewis' first season as coach has to be considered a success.
The Bengals still have AFC North title hopes, but need some help as they host
the Cleveland Browns in the regular season finale.
After years as one of the NFL's most hapless franchises, Cincinnati has enjoyed its best season in 13 years in Lewis' rookie campaign. The Bengals still have a chance for their first playoff berth since they won the AFC Central with a 9-7 mark in 1990. That was also the last time they finished with a winning record.
Cincinnati is one game behind the Baltimore Ravens, who host Pittsburgh on Sunday night. If the Bengals win and the Ravens lose, Cincinnati would be the AFC North champion because it owns the tiebreaker advantages.
``It's a situation
we didn't want to put ourselves into, but we're in it,'' linebacker Kevin Hardy
said. ``Now we've got to look for some help.''
The Bengals fell out of a tie for first last Sunday, and Cleveland had a hand
in that. While Cincinnati was losing 27-10 at St. Louis, the Browns were being
routed 35-0 by the Ravens.
``It's not in our hands anymore,'' Lewis said. ``So we've just got to beat Cleveland and see what happens.''
Cleveland's loss was just the latest in what has been a very disappointing season. The Browns were hoping to build on their success from last season, when they made the playoffs, but instead are only a game ahead of San Diego and Arizona for the league's worst record.
Injuries prevented the Browns from ever figuring out if Kelly Holcomb or Tim Couch is the answer as the starting quarterback, and William Green's suspension helped ruin the running game.
Cleveland has lost five straight and hasn't defeated a team that currently has a winning record.
``I recognize that this hasn't been the season that anyone envisioned,'' coach Butch Davis said. ``Nobody wanted this season to happen. As the head coach, ultimately, it's my responsibility. It's my responsibility to prepare the team and get the team to play well and win games.
``I recognize my own shortcomings and the things I'm not doing well as a head coach. I recognize the things we're not doing well as a football team, and we're going to do everything humanly possible to rectify that.''
Cleveland won three straight
meetings between the rivals before Cincinnati's 21-14 victory on Sept. 28. The
Browns lead the series 31-29.