This much is clear: Roster changes are coming because the Bengals missed the playoffs for the 17th time in 18 years.

"I know we have to get better, you can't hide that," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "I don't care if you win (the final) three games or not. I don't think it covers anything up that we feel interiorly, and that's the only thing that matters.

"There are still things that need to be done better - better players and better coaching. ... We might feel a little better about it, but it's still not going to change really what's on the inside, in my mind."

Lewis took a trip back in time, back to Dec. 18, 2005, when the Bengals clinched the AFC North Division - and their first playoff berth since the 1990 season - with a 41-17 victory over the Lions at Detroit's Ford Field. While Bengals players celebrated, Lewis was subdued and somber.

"People thought we had arrived, and I knew we hadn't," Lewis said. "Everybody wondered what was wrong with me, and I tried to not kill the moment, but I knew there was a lot of things left to get done."

Refusing to name names, Lewis said some players on the 2005 roster "really weren't strong pillars."

"I can remember talking to (2005 backup quarterback) Jon Kitna about it because he was taken aback by my reaction," Lewis said. "I just said, 'I've been there before, and I know what's ahead.' Although we had some accomplishments, we weren't screwed down the way we needed to be screwed down."

Lewis seeks more "strong pillars."

"We're building some of them, and some of them we're kind of moving along to the wayside, and they're moving themselves, too, which is good," he said.

"I'm hopeful there's a stronger foundation being built."

? More Bengals, Browns on B6-B7

Season finale

Who: Bengals (3-11-1) vs. Chiefs (2-13)

When: 1 p.m. today

TV: WHIO-TV (CBS, Ch. 7)

Radio: WLW-AM (700), WTUE-FM (104.7)