Cincinnati Bengals - Pro Football Betting, Online Sportsbook Casino
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Cincinnati Bengals,
professional football team and one of six teams in the Central
Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) of the National
Football League (NFL). Under the league’s realignment
plan, which will take affect in 2002, the Bengals will play
in the North Division of the AFC. The Bengals play at Cinergy
Field in Cincinnati, Ohio, and are scheduled to move to a new
venue, Paul Brown Stadium, in the 2000 season. The team wears
uniforms of orange, black, and white. The franchise was named
after the Cincinnati Bengals football team that played in the
now-defunct American Football League between 1937 and 1941.
The Bengals joined a different American Football League (AFL)
as an expansion team in 1968. The club was organized by Paul
Brown, who as a coach had won three NFL titles with the Cleveland
Browns during the 1950s. In the Bengals’ first season,
running back Paul Robinson led the AFL in rushing and was named
rookie of the year.
Cincinnati joined the NFL in 1970 when the NFL and AFL completed
their merger. The team won the AFC Central Division in its first
NFL season, relying especially on an outstanding defense that
starred cornerbacks Lemar Parrish and Ken Riley. In the playoffs
the Bengals lost in the first round.
Brown guided the Bengals to postseason appearances again in
1973 and 1975, and Ken Anderson emerged as one of the NFL’s
finest quarterbacks. He won three consecutive passing titles
from 1973 to 1975 with the help of wide receiver Isaac Curtis
and tight end Bob Trumpy. Another favorite target of Anderson
was running back Boobie Clark, the 1973 rookie of the year.
Cincinnati lost in the first round of the playoffs in both 1973
and 1975.
Following several coaching changes and mixed results over the
next few seasons, the Bengals won the division crown in 1981
under head coach Forrest Gregg, a former offensive tackle and
a member of the Hall of Fame. Anderson won his fourth passing
title, and running back Pete Johnson and rookie wide receiver
Cris Collinsworth each gained more than 1,000 yards. In the
playoffs, Cincinnati defeated the Buffalo Bills and the San
Diego Chargers before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the
Super Bowl, 26-21.
The Bengals remained competitive throughout the mid-1980s. Boomer
Esiason replaced Anderson in 1985 and, like his predecessor,
became one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks. Following
a 4-11 win-loss record in 1987, Cincinnati finished the 1988
season with a 12-4 mark. Esiason won the first of his two NFC
passing titles and shared player of the year honors with Philadelphia
Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham. Running back James Brooks,
wide receiver Eddie Brown, and tackle Anthony Munoz also starred
in the AFC’s top-rated offense. In the playoffs the Bengals
advanced to their second Super Bowl of the decade. Once there,
however, Cincinnati again lost to the 49ers when San Francisco
scored a last-minute touchdown.
In 1990 Cincinnati won its fifth division title. Esiason notched
his sixth consecutive 3,000-yard season, a club record. The
Bengals won a total of just 11 games from 1992 to 1994, and
the team continued to struggle for much of the rest of the 1990s.
1982 Super Bowl XVI Lost to San Francisco 49ers, 26-21
1989 Super Bowl XXIII Lost to San Francisco 49ers, 20-16
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