NFL hot seat rankings: Trouble already brewing for Marvin Lewis' Cincinnati Bengals

Firing up the hot seat watch in September may seem premature — a generally fair assessment — but any veteran coach will admit one is never safe when a team starts poorly. Just ask now-former Bengals offensive coordinator Ken Zampese, who'd been on the staff since 2003 but was terminated after last Thursday's loss. Yes, the coaching dominoes have officially begun to fall.

Here's the latest installment of our weekly hot seat rankings:

1. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals: After that Week 2 defeat, normally reserved Pro Bowl WR A.J. Green openly questioned an offense that's scored nine points amid an 0-2 start — Cincy is the first team since 1939 to open with two home games and fail to score a touchdown in each — and Zampese was gone the next day. Still, ineptitude on a squad harboring plenty of talent and a mini-mutiny from his best player does not portend a bright outlook for Lewis, whose contract is up after the season. Last week: 3

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2. John Fox, Chicago Bears: It's no secret that he prefers veteran quarterbacks, and it's reasonable to stick with Mike Glennon as the starter ... for now. But would it really have been the worst thing to get rookie Mitchell Trubisky some game experience Sunday, when the Bears were trailing the Tampa Bay Bucs 26-0 after three quarters? Fox might have preferred if GM Ryan Pace had drafted a player second overall who could contribute immediately. But the dye's been cast, and the calls for Trubisky will only grow as this season (and Fox's job security) presumably deteriorate. Last week: 2

3. Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts: In a "battle" of clubs each missing its best player, Pagano's Colts expired in overtime Sunday to the Arizona Cardinals and old friend Bruce Arians. There's still no timetable on when QB Andrew Luck will return, nor one as to when Indianapolis will be favored given the oddsmakers are predicting the winless Browns will prevail at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday. But Pagano has to spur improvement from this team if he wants to be around when Luck is back to his old self. Last week: 1

4. Todd Bowles, New York Jets: He made his bones in this league as a defensive coach. The Jets, who actually boast some talent on that side of the ball, nevertheless have surrendered a league-worst 66 points. And Bowles' players seem more concerned that they're getting shown up by the Marshawn Lynches of the world rather than putting a stop to opponents between the lines. Last week: 4

5. Ben McAdoo, New York Giants: For a guy who went 11-5 in his rookie season, it felt like a bit of a stretch to list McAdoo after last week's stinker. Not anymore. His offense is horrendous (no blocking, league-worst run game and 13 total points scored) and publicly laying the blame at the feet of a two-time Super Bowl MVP isn't going to sit well inside the locker room or in a city where Eli Manning is generally regarded as a made guy ... unlike McAdoo. Last week: 6

6. Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns: His rookie quarterback, DeShone Kizer, began Sunday with a migraine and ended it with four turnovers. Nevertheless, Jackson's record reflects two season-opening losses to AFC North foes. He should still have plenty of rope ... we think. Last week: 5

7. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints: A few years ago, it would have been unthinkable to believe he might be on thinning ice. But the winningest coach in franchise history has gone 7-9 for three consecutive seasons and is well on his way to a fourth sub-.500 year as his club flounders in yet another September swoon. Last week: Unranked

Cooler seats (for now): Bill O'Brien

— Week 1 rankings (Chuck Pagano)

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Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis

PHOTOS: Power rankings after Week 2