Even though they failed to qualify for a second Super Bowl in a row (and fourth in franchise history) by losing in the divisional championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cincinnati Bengals are coming off a historic 2022 season, winning their second consecutive AFC North title for the first time.
In 2023, they’ll go for the third, and they have the guns for it. This season, the Bengals have one of the most explosive offenses in the league, led by quarterback Joe Burrow, who has a plethora of weapons at his disposal, including wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd, and tight end Irv Smith Jr., who was signed as a free agent from the Minnesota Vikings. The offensive line was also upgraded with the addition of tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who was acquired in a trade from the Chiefs.
Their defense doesn’t stay behind, especially in the front seven, where defensive end Myles Murphy, the team's first-round draft pick from Clemson, joins a talented group that includes Sam Hubbard, D.J. Reader, and Logan Wilson. The secondary features cornerbacks D.J. Turner and Sidney Jones, who were both signed as free agents, and safety Jordan Battle, the team's third-round draft pick from Alabama.
The Bengals are not without flaws, however. The running game is still a question mark, as neither Joe Mixon nor Chase Brown, the team's fifth-round draft pick from Illinois, proved to be consistent or durable during the preseason. The team also lost some key players in free agency, such as safety Jessie Bates III, who signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and tight end Hayden Hurst, who signed with the Carolina Panthers.
Can the Bengals keep up their momentum and make it three division titles in a row? Both the team and the fans have high expectations for 2023, and rightfully so. Their roster keeps improving under the leadership of savvy coach Zac Taylor, however, they also face stiff competition in their own division, as well as in the AFC. The Bengals will need to stay healthy, play smart, and execute well if they want to make it three in a row and clinch their first Lombardi Trophy.
The Bengals had a remarkable 2022 season, reaching the conference finals for the second time in a row, which is the first time they do it in franchise history. They finished the regular season with a 12-4 record, winning the AFC North division and securing the second seed in the AFC playoffs.
After a disappointing 0–2 start, the Bengals quickly turned around, winning 12 out of their last 14 games to match their franchise-best record of 12–4 for the fourth time, with remarkable regular season wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers on week 11, the Kansas City Chiefs on week 13, the Cleveland Browns on week 14, and the Baltimore Ravens on week 18.
In the playoffs, the Bengals had to meet the Ravens for the third time this season, now in the Wild Card round. The Bengals won 24-17 thanks to a fumble recovery and a 98-yard touchdown return by defensive end Sam Hubbard. They then beat the Buffalo Bills 27-10 in the Divisional round, despite playing in snowy conditions. However, they could not overcome the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, as a late penalty by defensive end Joseph Ossai helped set up a game-winning field goal by Kansas City.
Despite having a good overall season and reaching the divisional championship game, the roster’s performance wasn’t as good as the previous one, with Joe Burrow only ranking as the 5th best quarterback this season, throwing for 4,475 yards and 35 touchdowns, and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase only had 1,046 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, ranking in 16th place for receiving yards, not improving on his rookie season. The Bengals’ defense was anchored by defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who had eight sacks, and safety Jessie Bates III, who had four interceptions, also behind 2021’s numbers.
The Bengals picked the following players from the draft this season:
After the roster cut in late August, these are the signings that made it to the 53-Man list:
Other signings who didn’t make the cut were either put in the reserve list or the practice squad are:
The Bengals’ race for their third divisional title in a row looks challenging, as they need to face some of the toughest rivals, including the current Super Bowl champions. Will they be able to do it? Some of their featured games include:
Week 3 vs. Los Angeles Rams: This upcoming Monday Night Football showdown marks the first encounter between these teams since the thrilling Super Bowl LVI, where the Rams narrowly defeated the Bengals in a game that remained suspenseful until the final minute. The Rams are determined to bounce back from their disappointing 5-12 record in 2022, while the Bengals are eager for redemption.
Week 11 at Baltimore Ravens: This Thursday Night Football clash showcases a classic rivalry between two formidable AFC North squads that have a history of intense battles on the gridiron. It will also highlight the matchup between two exceptional quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow.
Week 16 at Pittsburgh Steelers: This game brings together two divisional rivals on the day before Christmas Eve, promising an intense and physically demanding matchup. While the Steelers have often emerged victorious in their playoff encounters with the Bengals, this season, the Bengals are determined to challenge that historical trend.
Week 18 vs. Cleveland Browns: There's nothing quite like a classic matchup between two divisional foes to conclude the regular season. This game carries significant importance for both teams, as the Bengals aim to secure their third consecutive AFC North title, while the Browns seek to return to the playoffs after a two-season absence.
The team was established in 1968 as a member of the American Football League (AFL) and joined the National Football League (NFL) as a result of the AFL–NFL merger in 1970. They’re currently in their 54th season in the NFL and 5th season overall.
The current owner of the Bengals is Mike Brown, who is also the president of the team. He inherited the ownership from his father, Paul Brown, who founded the franchise in 1968 as part of the American Football League (AFL). Mike Brown has been in charge of the team since 1991 and has spent the majority of his tenure dealing with underwhelming on-field performance. He is one of the few owners in the NFL who does not have a general manager and oversees all personnel decisions himself. He is also known for being very frugal and reluctant to spend money on free agents or coaches. His net worth is estimated to be around $1.2 billion as of 2022.
The head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals is Zac Taylor, who was hired after the 2018 season. Taylor is a former quarterback who played for Wake Forest, Butler Community College, and Nebraska in college. He began his NFL coaching career as an offensive assistant for the Miami Dolphins in 2012 and later worked as the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams in 2018. He is the tenth head coach in Bengals history and the youngest one at 40 years old. He is known for his innovative offensive schemes and his close relationship with quarterback Joe Burrow, who was the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Bengals have not yet won any Super Bowl championships. They have reached the championship game three times, in the 1981, 1988, and 2021 seasons.
The Bengals have won 11 divisional championships in their history, including five AFC Central championships (1970, 1973, 1981, 1988, 1990) and six AFC North championships (2005, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2021, 2022).
The best overall season record for the Cincinnati Bengals is 12-4-0, which they achieved four times: in 1981, 1988, 2015 and 2022. In each of these seasons, they won the AFC Central division title and advanced to the AFC Championship game.
The Cincinnati Bengals overall franchise record is 385-463-51 in their 56 seasons from 1968 to 2023. This gives them a winning percentage of 0.454. Some of the top stats in team history come from Ken Anderson, who holds the franchise record for passing yards (32,838) and passing touchdowns (197), Corey Dillon, who holds the franchise record for rushing yards (8,061) and rushing touchdowns (45), and Chad Johnson, who holds the franchise record for receiving yards (10,783) and receiving touchdowns (66).
The Cincinnati Bengals have only retired one jersey number in their history. It is the number 54, which belonged to Bob Johnson, the first player ever drafted by the Bengals in 1968. He was a center who played for the Bengals for 12 seasons, from 1968 to 1979, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1968 and 1970. He was also the last original Bengal to retire.
The Bengals play at Paycor Stadium, which is an outdoor football stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. It opened on August 19, 2000 and it has a seating capacity of 65,515, with 70% of the seats along the sidelines.
The mascot for the Cincinnati Bengals is a Bengal tiger known as Who Dey. Who Dey is a character in a costume who roams around the field and engages with fans during the games. He made his debut during the 1993-94 season and has served as the mascot for approximately three decades. Who Dey sports a jersey with black and orange stripes, bearing the number 1, and wears a black helmet adorned with orange stripes. Additionally, he has a tail and whiskers, and he often entertains the crowd by performing tricks and dancing alongside the Ben-Gals cheerleaders. The name "Who Dey" is derived from the popular Bengals fan chant, "Who dey, who dey, who dey think gonna beat dem Bengals?" This spirited chant originated in the 1980s and became an iconic rallying chant for Bengals fans.
The Bengals’ team colors are orange and black. These colors were chosen for their bold and distinctive appearance, which reflects the team's fierce and energetic identity on the football field. The orange symbolizes strength, determination, and enthusiasm, while the black adds a sense of power and intimidation. Together, these colors create a visually striking and memorable look for the team, helping to establish their brand and identity within the NFL.
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