DaytonDailyNews.com

CINCINNATI — As one of the NFL's most underachieving teams, the Bengals will pay for their sins of 2007 by sitting home for the playoffs.

Cincinnati joins Kansas City, Oakland, Baltimore, the New York Jets and Miami as AFC teams eliminated from the postseason.

"That's disappointing," head coach Marvin Lewis said on Monday. "We put ourselves in this situation. It shows how important each and every win is. There are some games we should have won, but didn't. That makes a big difference when you get into this kind of situation."

Playing for pride

The Bengals are reduced to playing for pride.

"We're going to work our tails off to win the next three ballgames," Lewis said.

Lewis said the combination of the 2007 draft class, the players signed during the season and the return of players on injured reserve "give us an opportunity to come back healthy and lay a stronger foundation."

Scouting snub

ESPN analyst Bob Davie stirred up some controversy when he reported the Bengals were the only NFL team not to have a scout at Northwest Missouri State's 34-16 victory over Grand Valley State in an NCAA Division II semifinal at Maryville, Mo., on Saturday night.

Davie served as coach at Notre Dame from 1997-2001.

"Where does Bob Davie coach?" Lewis said. "I heard about (his comments). I don't know how true it is. I would hope Bob would have a little more sense than to say something unless he was there keeping track. Maybe he has enough time to keep track, since he doesn't coach anymore."

Do the Bengals know about the NFL prospects in that game? "Obviously, we do," Lewis said. "There's not a guy, of the prospects that come out, that you haven't looked at and evaluated."

Injury report

Tight end Reggie Kelly and middle linebacker Landon Johnson suffered sprained ankles on Sunday, but neither injury is believed to be serious. Both will be limited in practice and re-evaluated this week.

Free safety Madieu Williams (thigh) and right offensive tackle Willie Anderson (knee) are questionable.

Quick hitter

• Lewis said rumors of him leaving Cincinnati to become head coach of either the Michigan Wolverines or the Washington Redskins are unfounded. "Marvin Lewis doesn't know any of those reports," he said. "I appreciate the fact that (media) haven't brought those up, until now. Let's beat the San Francisco 49ers."

Next game

Who: Bengals (5-8) at 49ers (3-10)

When: 8:15 p.m. Saturday

Radio: WTUE-FM (104.7)

TV: NFL Network