Franchise History
The Bengals moved into the NFL as part of the league’s merger with the AFL. Paul Brown’s quest in returning to pro football, following his ouster from Cleveland by Art Modell in 1962, had always been about re-joining the NFL. So when the Bengals began play in the AFL in 1968, it was key for Brown to know that the ’70 NFL-AFL merger was already approved. There was much debate and controversy over exactly how the leagues would combine. The Bengals pushed strongly for a full merger, with the 26 clubs divided into two 13-team conferences. Other interests sought to keep the 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams in separate conferences of unequal size. But the full merger view prevailed, with the NFL’s Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers agreeing to join the 10 AFL teams in the new American Football Conference (AFC). The remaining 13 NFL teams formed the National Conference. The Bengals were part of a four-team AFC Central Division, joined by Cleveland, Pittsburgh and the AFL Houston Oilers. Thus was born the twice annual “Battle of Ohio” between the Bengals and Browns.
The Bengals started horribly on the field, losing six of their first seven games, but they roared to life in winning their last seven and claimed the first AFC Central title at 8-6, by a game over Cleveland. The Bengals became, at that time, the youngest franchise (third year of existence) to reach the NFL playoffs. Baltimore squelched the Bengals 17-0 in the first round of the playoffs, but that Colts club would go on to win Super Bowl V, and Brown won the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award.
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Front Office Personnel
Mike Brown President
Katie Blackburn Executive Vice President
Paul Brown Vice President – Player Personnel
Troy Blackburn Vice President
Head Coach – Zac Taylor
Single Season Record Holders
Passing Yards – Andy Dalton 4293
Receiving Yards- Chad Johnson 1440
Passing Attempts- CarsonPalmer 586
Retired Numbers
Bob Johnson 54
Otto Graham 14
Jim Brown 32
Cincinnati Bengals Betting Odds for 2020
- Bengals Odds to Win Super Bowl: +15000
- Bengals Win Total: 5.5
- Bengals Odds to Win Division: +2600
- Bengals Odds to Win Conference: +7000
Cincinnati Bengals Betting- Looking at the Numbers
With 2019 behind them, the Bengals were able to draft an sign high end prospect Joe Burrows out of LSU. He is full of promise and fits into the mold of Andy Dalton. Running back Joe Mixon returns as the team work horse that will get plenty of carries as Tyler Eifert and Drew Sample fight over the tight end spot.
Regular Season Schedule
