Sunday Rundown: Where do the Bengals go from here?

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.

Marvin Lewis can't describe what it feels like to lose in the postseason, despite making a habit of it. He has no frame of reference.

"It's disappointing, but I don't know any other way," Lewis told reporters shortly after his Cincinnati Bengals were eliminated by the Indianapolis Colts, dropping Lewis's postseason record as a head coach to 0-6 (including four losses in the last four years).

Quarterback Andy Dalton probably feels the same. Since entering the NFL as a second-round pick in 2012, Dalton has never missed the playoffs. He's also never seen the divisional round. Incredibly, in four playoff losses he has yet to attempt a pass with the lead.

Dalton wasn't the disaster Sunday he was in the wild-card round a year ago, despite not having A.J. Green or his top two tight ends at his disposal, but he was the second-best quarterback on the field. As usual.

Also as usual, Marvin Lewis and his staff failed to come up with a game plan sufficient to overcome Dalton and his teammates' shortcomings. The Bengals showed little creativity in terms of scheme, failing to get their two best (and healthiest) weapons, Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, on the field at the same time.

It wasn't good enough to win. It probably won't ever be.

The Bengals are in the NFL's equivalent of purgatory: not nearly good enough to compete for a Super Bowl but not nearly bad enough to force major organizational changes.

Lewis told reporters he expects to return to coach the Bengals in 2015, the final year of his contract. And why wouldn't he?

Only two teams (New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers) have more consecutive playoff appearances than the Bengals. In the 20 years prior to Lewis's arrival, the Bengals went to the playoffs only twice. Fans of several NFL franchises would sell their souls for four straight postseason appearances.

Bengals owner Mike Brown isn't exactly renowned for his willingness to waste money, so it's exceptionally unlikely he'll fire Lewis with a year remaining on his contract. Instead, Lewis's Bengals will pick up the pieces from another failed postseason and walk further into the darkness in search of whatever it is that will deliver them a win in January.

They haven't found that thing yet. Perhaps it's time to question if it exists at all.

Rookie's redemption

Dallas Cowboys rookie pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence was presented with a monumental task to begin the season: replace the production of the departed DeMarcus Ware, the greatest pass rusher in Cowboys history.

The 34th overall pick didn't exactly hurry to achieve his goals. After missing the first eight games due to injury, Lawrence failed to record a sack in the ensuing five contests.

But that's all forgiven now. When it mattered most Sunday, Lawrence was a terror. First, to the Detroit Lions, when he recovered a Matthew Stafford fumble ostensibly to seal the game. Then, seconds later, to his Cowboys teammates, when he made the boneheaded decision to run with the ball, rather than fall of it, and ended up fumbling it right back to the Lions:

Then, moments later, redemption. Sweet, win-sealing redemption. It was Lawrence's first career sack:

Lawrence has 116 more sacks to make before he matches Ware's total with the Cowboys, but he's off and running now.

Stray Thoughts

• Wild Card Weekend used to be the NFL's most exciting two days. In recent years, the divisional round has produced more thrills. That certainly seems to be the case again this year. Three of this weekend's game's were decided by double-digits.
• The NFL owns Sunday-night network television during the regular season yet bizarrely stays away from the time slot in the playoffs. Is the league reserving Sunday night (and perhaps Monday night, too) for an expanded playoff package in the future?
• There's a not-insignificant chance that Peyton Manning's career will come to an end at the hands of his former team. Considering how bad his arm strength looked late in the season, he's no lock to return in 2015.
• Shed a tear for Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians. He simply didn't have a prayer with a roster that banged up. For the 49th straight season, the team based in the Super Bowl host city fails to advance to the big game.
• The Carolina Panthers have a chance to become the first team in NFL history to win two playoff games despite finishing the regular season with a losing record. All that stands in their way are the defending Super Bowl champions. No pressure.

Injury Ward

Recapping the weekend's most significant injuries. 

Rolando McClain, LB, Cowboys
Concussion-like symptoms. Prognosis unclear. 
McClain was sick entering the game and was reportedly forced to leave due to dehydration. After the final whistle, the story changed and the Cowboys admitted their linebacker is battling the dreaded concussion-like symptoms. If McClain truly is in the NFL's concussion protocol, he could be hard-pressed to receive clearance to play in the divisional round.

Stat of the Week