CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Marvin Lewis got his first win as coach of the Cincinnati Bengals against the Cleveland Browns on September 28. He needs another win Sunday if the Bengals are to have any hope of reaching the postseason for the first time since 1990.
One of the leading candidates for NFL Coach of the Year, Lewis has turned the Bengals from a perennial laughingstock into a playoff contender in his first season.
But in order for the Bengals to reach the postseason for the first time in more than a decade, they need a win in this contest and a loss by Baltimore to Pittsburgh on Sunday night. If the Bengals get that combination, they would win the AFC North Division.
Cincinnati lost its first three games this season before giving Lewis his first win, a 21-14 victory over the Browns.
Jon Kitna passed for three touchdowns, including a pair to boisterous wide receiver Chad Johnson. Kitna finished 23-of-31 for 215 yards.
Last week, Kitna threw a season-high three interceptions as the Bengals suffered a 27-10 loss at St. Louis.
While the Bengals are holding out hopes of reaching the postseason, the Browns already are looking toward next season. They have lost five straight games and clinched a last-place finish in the AFC North.
The Browns had their worst performance of the season last week, a 35-0 loss to Baltimore. Cleveland surrendered 276 yards rushing in its most lopsided loss of the season.
Cleveland leads the series, 31-29.
