The same question circled the subdued Bengals locker room. As players quietly dressed, gathered their belongings and shuffled off to the busses for the fourth straight year digesting a one-and-done playoff disappointment, there was no avoiding the obvious.

What has to change to put this team over the postseason hump? At this point, in the immediate wake of 26-10, nobody had answers.

“I don’t know, I really don’t,” wide receiver Mohamed Sanu said. “We are just going to have to see. It’s just frustrating and embarrassing. It’s tiring having this feeling, the same talk, the same situation over and over. Something’s got to change.”

In the Marvin Lewis era, the results haven’t changed, however, and now the head coach’s futility reaches historic levels.

Now moving to six losses in six playoff games, Lewis joins Jim Mora Sr., as the only other coach in NFL history to lose his first six postseason appearances. Mora never saw a seventh.

Lewis also ties Mora and Marty Schottenheimer for the NFL record since the merger for most consecutive playoff losses. He also joins Steve Owen of the New York Giants for most consecutive playoff losses with one team.

The Bengals are now the only team in NFL history to lose in the first round of the playoffs four years in a row.

Lewis serves as the common thread to the futility. He’s under contract through the 2015 season and considering the ultra-conservative nature of owner Mike Brown those calling for Lewis’ firing are likely screaming down a well.

As for Lewis, when asked if he expected to be back, was brief before moving on to discussing his team.

“It’s my plan,” Lewis said. “It’s not about me. It’s about our football team, wherever our football team is.”

via Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com