It’s a tough “dey” to be a Bengals fan. For months Tyler Boyd Jersey , this team sold the idea that, despite a coaching overhaul, this was a squad prepared to make an immediate playoff run in 2019. There were questions, but talent at the skill positions and a fresh approach from these coaches were supposed to reinvigorate everyone. Here we are a month and a half without a regular-season win and long-term questions abound. “Who Dey?!” and “New Dey” have turned to blase and “Groundhog Day”. Every fear that blossomed about the team’s 2019 viability has come to fruition at the kickoff of the Zac Taylor era. The offensive line and linebacker groups have been the team’s predictable Achilles Heel, while the amount and severity of injuries to important players have been downright laughable. As if Taylor and his staff didn’t have enough of a hill to climb with those factors, inexperience has reared its ugly head. Taylor, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan had only previously topped out as interim coordinatorsin the NFL, but they’ve been learning on the fly through the first five weeks. Taylor’s greenness was glaringly obvious last week, as he placed the team in precarious positions with his decisions. A questionable fourth-down attempt and play-call in Week 5 aside, Cincinnati’s red zone incompetency is reaching Scott Mitchell-esque levels. Even through the injuries and coaching gaffes, Cincinnati is nine points away from being 3-2. As it so happens, that is the record of the AFC North-leading Ravens, who host these Bengals on Sunday. Cincinnati is looking up to the other three teams from the cellar, but this division still appears to be wide open. Though the Bengals were stomped by Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago, the Steelers are missing a number of offensive mainstays this year and it shows in the form of their 1-4 record.Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns were crowned Super Bowl champs before a preseason snap was even taken and are teetering on the brink of implosion. If Taylor’s inexperience has been noted, then Freddie Kitchens has been the captain of that ship. And now, Cincinnati can be within two games of the division lead with 12 games remaining at 1-5. They seem to have A.J. Green returning soon, along with others, which could result in a late-season momentum swing. After all, Marvin Lewis had the Bengals knocking at door of a playoff berth in his inaugural season after starting 1-4, so... Yeah.That can’t be how Cincinnati approaches this week, though. It’s about what’s right in front of them and finding something to build upon for the rest of 2019 and into next season. Last year after Lamar Jackson took over at quarterback, Baltimore employed an offense that resembled what could be seen on Friday nights at the local prep academy. Even so, they gouged the Bengals’ defense in Week 11 to the tune of 267 rushing yards. In 2019, the Ravens have upped their offensive game plan and confidence in Jackson, which has led to their top-dog position in the North. Jackson has developed as a passer, tossing 11 touchdowns against five interceptions. Mark Ingram has been a solid offseason acquisition Nick Vigil Jersey , as he’s averaged 5.0 yards per carry and six touchdowns on the ground to supplement the multi-dimensional talents of Jackson. Earl Thomas has also been a nice addition, as the team is 1-1 against their division rivals thus far. Interestingly enough, the Ravens’ trademark defense hasn’t been the dominant unit in which the league has become accustomed. Baltimore is a pedestrian No. 21 overall in defense, including a No. 28 ranking against the pass and 10th against the run. On the other side of the fence, most of the Bengals’ star players who have killed the Ravens over the years are out this week. Cordy Glenn, A.J. Green and Carlos Dunlap are all out this week, contributing to the continuous woes on both sides of the ball in 2019. Because of these absences and others, Andy Dalton has had an up-and-down year. In true Dalton-ian fashion, we’ve seen No. 14 reach a career-high in single game passing yards (418 in Week 1 versus the Seahawks), as well as a career-low in first half passing yards against the Cardinals last Sunday (22). Some are calling for Ryan Finley to get looks, as the season seems to be lost, but this is a year where the Bengals are evaluating Dalton’s long-term viability in Taylor’s system. A strong performance against the Ravens, including a win, could go a long way in silencing the critics. Even so, Cincinnati will need to find offensive balance. The Bengals have the 31st-ranked rushing attack this year, which is a bit surprising, given Joe Mixon being the AFC leader in rushing yards last year. But, the Bengals found creases last week, as Mixon had his most rushing yards (93) since Week 17 of last year. He’ll need to have some semblance of success this Sunday, if Cincinnati is to have a snowball’s chance in you-know-where. There really isn’t one facet that points to the Bengals this week, hence their being 12-point underdogs. It’s so grim in Cincinnati that they’re down to their fourth and fifth options at left tackle (Alex Redmond and John Jerry—both guards throughout their respective NFL careers) and even the kicking game disparity shows a massive talent chasm between the two teams this year. Coming into this week, Cincinnati is 2-14 over their last 16 contests. So, unfortunately, there appear to be two groups of unhappy folks this week: those who associate with the Bengals and those who put money on the Ravens to cover the spread. Bengals 20, Ravens 31AC — Getting worse before getting better. You can say the Bengals’ problems started with Marvin Lewis (or more specifically Mike Brown), but their issues went beyond their head coach of 16 seasons.There’s no better time for the organization known for its conservatism and love of continuity to continue deviating miles from their modus operandi than right now, and it appears they’re taking this advice.Under Lewis, the Bengals have dealt with plenty offseason transitions Jake Fisher Jersey , but none will be quite like the one they’re about to undergo. The Bengals have changed their offensive coordinator three times, defensive coordinators four times, and have drafted a quarterback in the first two rounds just twice in Lewis’ 16-year tenure. It’s possible that they do all three within the next four months, perhaps with the exception of drafting a quarterback — but they shouldn’t eliminate that possibility like they did for the last two years.For so long, familiar faces have populated the locker room and sidelines of Paul Brown Stadium along with Lewis. They’ve shared his successes, failures and everything in between with him. But with Lewis’ departure finally coming to fruition, some — if not most — of those players and coaches need to suffer the same fate if the Bengals want to truly move forward. This process has been a few years in the making, but the dial needs to be turned to 11 over the course of the next several weeks. Starting with the coaches, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor has shown his play-calling abilities rest somewhere between Ken Zampese and Jay Gruden. On a roster that oozes offensive talent and depth, he can produce competent results, but the team can do much better than him. Lazor has been interviewed for the head coaching gig as an in-house candidate, but he wasn’t the only one.Hue Jackson, perhaps more than anybody in this article, needs to be following Lewis out of the door. Jackson will also be interviewed for Lewis’ job, but he proved that he is not capable of leading an NFL franchise. Jackson and Lewis are obviously close friends, but Cincinnati would be best to part ways with him for good right now, while Jackson’s one connection has been terminated. Special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons is the third and final in-house interviewee and could prove to showcase his leadership skills with increased power, but they need to be thinking bigger. Simmons can keep his job though, no one would complain about that. But would he be able to do so under a brand new management?An out-of-house hiring no only needs to happen in Cincinnati, but he needs to be given the same power Lewis has accumulated for so many years. If the choice comes between promoting an assistant under Lewis and bringing in a new face that would likely purge the remaining staff for his own preferred coaches, then there isn’t a choice at all.Of course, the coaches shouldn’t be the only ones worried.Lewis was a player’s coach, there’s no denying that. Throughout the years he’s developed countless close relationships with players that he watched grow up before his own eyes. A good number of those players have established long careers in Cincinnati, or seemed to find their way back to Lewis’ Bengals after previously leaving. Sometimes this was an advantage to the team, other times it was a detriment. The vast majority of those players that have overstayed their welcome or received one-too many contracts to come back are gone or retired now, but there remains some notable players that could still play for the new coach in 2019. The defense is where we’ll find most of these players.10-year veteran Michael Johnson has played more games under Lewis than any other current Bengal (aside from specialists Kevin Huber and Clark Harris) and will become a free agent once more in 2019. He has developed into a quality defensive end, but his days of playing are winding down rapidly. He deserves all the respect in the world, but it’s time to move on for good.The linebacker position could see a mass exodus this offseason as well Tyler Kroft Jersey , and rightfully so. Vincent Rey hasn’t the number of career starts as Johnson, but should be equally respected for the way he’s composed himself. Hardy Nickerson, the son of a former player who played under Lewis back in the 90s, isn’t good enough to warrant a roster spot and like Jackson, he has no pull now that Lewis is gone.Vontaze Burfict of course is the primary focal point of this group, and his connection with Lewis cannot be understated. Burfict’s antics were tolerated under Lewis’ reign, but would they under a different coach? Even beyond his extra-curricular activities, Burfict’s concussions are the more pressing issues for him and they may just be enough to prohibit him from playing under his pricey contract, at least that’s how the new coach could look at it.Then, there’s Andy Dalton.The new coach will have a huge impact on the Bengals’ potential progression, but Dalton is still Dalton, and they’ll ultimately go as far as he takes them. There’s no need to deny the fact that Dalton has earned respect as an NFL starter, just like his clear limitations are just as obvious. The eight-year veteran will turn 32 next season, and over the past several years, he’s exemplified the threshold between a franchise quarterback, and a replaceable starter.When all the pieces were in place, Dalton performed well; when some pieces were taken out, he struggled accordingly. A new coach who doesn’t inherit a quarterback with multiple years left on his rookie contract will typically try to bring in one of his own sooner rather than later. Dalton’s contract doesn’t expire until the conclusion of the 2020 season, but he can now be cut without any cap penalties. Without a true heir on the roster (Jeff Driskel ain’t it), it’s more likely that the team will plan on keeping Dalton for as long as he’s the best option at the position. But that shouldn’t be for long. Is he safe for now? Yes. But as soon as the new coach gets settled in with his staff, he should be looking at future replacements immediately. No longer should the Bengals be solely focused on building around Dalton, they need to be thinking about the future beyond him.From a macro-perspective, the Bengals have a handful of foundation pieces that will help the transition to leadership. But the franchise will not be able to completely move on from the Marvin Lewis era until the numerous names that have long been associated with him are out of the picture. The Bengals’ organization needs a fresh start, not a re-tool — and they can’t do the latter anymore with Lewis gone.