Winless Bengals, Lewis in hot seat

“You’re fired” has been linked with the NFL this week in a manner few could have ever imagined. But President Trump’s rhetoric aside, it is a harsh league reality that failing to produce in the win column will relegate coaches to the unemployment line in no time flat.

Here’s the latest installment of our weekly hot seat rankings. 1. Marvin Lewis, Bengals:

NFL Media reported Sunday morning that owner Mike Brown had previously “informed the coaching staff that the talent is not the problem” with his winless team. Then, despite their best performance of the season at Green Bay, the Bengals subsequently fell to 0-3, virtually guaranteeing consecutive seasons outside of the playoffs for lame-duck Lewis, who’s never won a postseason game in his 14 years. Last week: 1 2. Chuck Pagano, Colts:

His team hung on for its first victory Sunday, though it nearly coughed up a 21-point lead at home to the still-winless Browns. It seems like QB Andrew Luck is finally close to returning, surely the best chance Indianapolis has of legitimately competing. LW: 3

3. Ben McAdoo, Giants: Before

a too little, too late 24-point outburst in the fourth quarter Sunday, McAdoo’s offense was averaging just a tick more than a point a quarter this season. No NFC team has had more trouble scoring (or put more pressure on its defense) than the winless Giants. LW: 5

4. John Fox, Bears: His team’s young talent — RBs Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen, TE Adam Shaheen and in improving defense — was on full display in Sunday’s upset of the Steelers, the second time this season the Bears have played well at Soldier Field. Yet also front and center were the ongoing ineffectiveness of QB Mike Glennon and a lack of discipline from CB Marcus Cooper. LW: 2

5. Todd Bowles, Jets: Few would have predicted “Gang Green” would have a better record than the crosstown Giants after three weeks. Still, Bowles has a lot of work ahead to convince his employers that Sunday’s thorough beatdown of the Dolphins is the rule while the previous two games were the aberration for a talent-bereft outfit. LW: 4 6. Hue Jackson, Browns:

His team will host Lewis’ Bengals on Sunday, ensuring one of these coaches will get off the schneid. Either way Jackson’s margin of error should be significantly more forgiving. LW: 6

Cooler seat (for now): Sean Payton, Saints