NFL Bengals coach safe for now

Beleaguered Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis is said to be safe, at least for now, despite yet another NFL playoff loss.

The Bengals are not planning to make a coaching change, ESPN reported on Sunday, after the team's latest postseason failure - a heartbreaking 18-16 capitulation to the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC wild-card game in Cincinnati.

Lewis is the first coach in NFL history with an 0-7 postseason record.

The 57-year-old has held the job since 2003. He has a 112-94 record during the regular season but has never won a playoff.

The Bengals' last postseason win came 25 years ago - the longest drought for any NFL team.

They frittered away a late lead against the Steelers on Saturday night after linebacker Vontaze Burfict and cornerback Adam Jones were penalised in the final minute, putting Pittsburgh in position to kick the winning field goal.

The Bengals, the AFC North champions, finished the regular season with a 12-4 record.

They played Saturday's game without starting quarterback Andy Dalton who has a broken thumb.