Marvin Lewis PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 18: Head coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half at Heinz Field on September 18, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

On Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns will play for the first time since Hue Jackson left the Bengals to coach the Browns. With the Bengals floundering with a 2-4 record and a shaky offense, it is no wonder Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis had some sentimental feelings to share about Jackson.

“I miss the hell out of him,” Lewis confessed when speaking with the media on Monday, referring to his former offensive coordinator. He also had some advice for his former assistant as they face each other on opposite sidelines for the first time.

“Just to put your head down and coach,” Lewis said. “Don’t worry about what they’re talking about. The only way they like you is if you win.”

Given how the Browns have started this season, there is plenty of negativity surrounding Jackson’s new team, although not all of it falls on him. The Browns are just a doomed franchise that will have to make a deal with the devil in order to turn things around to keep up with the Cavaliers and maybe the Indians. It’s a good thing the Indians are rolling in the baseball postseason, because that helps keep the Browns in the shadows as much as possible for as long as possible.

The Bengals have not been that much better than the Browns, but at least they have won two of six games. The offense has been sagging, with 14 and 17 points scored in each of the last two games. The Bengals have failed to score more than 17 points in all four of their losses this season.

If they can’t score 17 points on the Browns, things could get ugly for Marvin Lewis and maybe Jackson will have to be the one to rescue him from unemployment.

[Cleveland.com]

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.