Cincinnati Bengals
	2002 record: 2-14 Departing Head Coach: Dick LeBeau, 12-33 (2000-02) New Head Coach: Marvin Lewis Previous NFL head coaching experience: None. Background: Defensive coordinator of Super Bowl XXXV champions Baltimore Ravens (1996-2001), defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Washington Redskins 2002.

When Marvin Lewis studied his first opponent as a rookie head coach in the NFL, Herm Edwards' New York Jets, he saw the team he wanted his Cincinnati Bengals to become.

"They're a playoff team the last two years and at a level we hope to get to real quickly," Lewis said. "They turned the corner last year, and now the whole perception of the New York Jets has changed, which is amazing.

"So it can turn around."

Technically, it is possible.

The Jets, it should be mentioned, played in the 1998 AFC championship game. The Bengals haven't appeared in a playoff game in 13 seasons and are 55-137 since that 1990 breakthrough. Last season's 2-14 record under Dick LeBeau was the seventh season featuring four wins or less in that span, a truly staggering statistic in the league that thrives on parity.

As the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator, Lewis built his unit into the league's best. He understands personnel and chemistry. He is a thinker, not a screamer, but the Bengals are hoping he can inject some confidence and energy into this limping franchise. His professionalism is a terrific start.

While the Bengals have typically been the league's thriftiest team in terms of vital infrastructure -- the scouting department has been woefully undermanned -- there are signs that Lewis has exerted some pressure in this area. Still, it takes time for those kind of improvements to manifest themselves.

The first preseason game, predictably, offered more of the same Bengals ineptitude.

Cincinnati committed four turnovers and the first and second offensive units scored zero points. The special teams were again abysmal and quarterback Carson Palmer, the first overall draft choice, had two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

"We just keep fixing the negatives," Lewis said stoically after the Jets beat the Bengals 28-13.

"The thing I'm excited about, what I enjoyed today was the fact (that) some of the things we've been talking about occurred. It was raining, but there was a rainbow.

"And now we know where the end is."

Greg Garber is a senior writer at ESPN.com.