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1968 Cincinnati Bengals season

NFL team season (inaugural season)

NFL team season (inaugural season)

FieldValue
teamCincinnati Bengals
year1968
record3–11
division_place5th AFL West
coachPaul Brown
stadiumNippert Stadium
playoffs*Did not qualify*
AFL allstars{{Collapsible list
title3
1C Bob Johnson
2TE Bob Trumpy
3RB Paul Robinson
ROYPaul Robinson
previous*none*
no_prevseasontrue
shortnavlinkBengals seasons

| AP All-pros =

The 1968 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's inaugural season. Their head coach was Paul Brown, who left the Cleveland Browns following the 1962 season with National Football League (NFL) record of 115–49–6, seven conference titles, and three NFL championships. His son Mike Brown did a study on pro football expansion and recommended Cincinnati as a potential site. In 1965, Brown met with Governor of Ohio James Rhodes and the two agreed the state could accommodate a second pro football team. The team recorded its first win in franchise history in week 2 with a 24–10 victory over the Denver Broncos.

Timeline to establishment

  • 1966 – Fearful the Cincinnati Reds baseball team would leave town and feeling pressure from local businessmen pushing for a pro football franchise, Cincinnati's city council approved the construction of Riverfront Stadium.

  • 1967 – Brown's group was awarded an American Football League (AFL) expansion franchise. Brown named the team the Bengals, the name of Cincinnati's pro teams in the old AFL of the late 1930s. The Bengals acquired their first player late in the year when they traded two draft picks to Miami for quarterback John Stofa.

  • 1968 – The Bengals were awarded 40 veteran players in the allocation draft. In the college draft, they selected University of Tennessee center Bob Johnson as their first pick. The Bengals lost their first preseason game 38–14 to the Kansas City Chiefs before 21,682 fans at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium. The Bengals upset the Denver Broncos 24–10 and the Buffalo Bills 34–23 in their first two regular-season home games. Halfback Paul Robinson led the AFL in rushing with 1,023 yards and was named Rookie of the Year.

Offseason

Common draft

Main article: 1968 NFL draft

Preseason

Cincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"WeekCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"DateCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"OpponentCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"ResultCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"RecordCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"VenueCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"Attendance12345
August 3[Kansas City Chiefs](1968-kansas-city-chiefs-season)**L** 14–380–1Nippert Stadium21,682
August 10at [Denver Broncos](1968-denver-broncos-season)**L** 13–150–2Denver University Stadium13,841
August 17[Buffalo Bills](1968-buffalo-bills-season)**L** 6–100–3Nippert Stadium20,111
August 25[Pittsburgh Steelers](1968-pittsburgh-steelers-season)**W** 19–31–3Old Mountaineer Field11,500
August 30[New York Jets](1968-new-york-jets-season)**W** 13–92–3Memphis Memorial Stadium24,358

Regular season

Schedule

Cincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"WeekCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"DateCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"OpponentCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"ResultCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"RecordCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"VenueCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"AttendanceCincinnati Bengalsyear=1968border=2}}"Recap1234567891011121314
at **[San Diego Chargers](1968-san-diego-chargers-season)****L** 13–290–1San Diego Stadium33,687[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809060sdg.htm)
September 15**[Denver Broncos](1968-denver-broncos-season)****W** 24–101–1Nippert Stadium25,049[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809150cin.htm)
September 22[Buffalo Bills](1968-buffalo-bills-season)**W** 34–232–1Nippert Stadium24,045[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809220cin.htm)
September 29**[San Diego Chargers](1968-san-diego-chargers-season)****L** 10–312–2Nippert Stadium28,642[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809290cin.htm)
October 6at **[Denver Broncos](1968-denver-broncos-season)****L** 7–102–3Mile High Stadium41,257[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810060den.htm)
October 13at **[Kansas City Chiefs](1968-kansas-city-chiefs-season)****L** 3–132–4Municipal Stadium47,096[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810130kan.htm)
October 20[Miami Dolphins](1968-miami-dolphins-season)**L** 22–242–5Nippert Stadium25,942[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810200cin.htm)
October 27at **[Oakland Raiders](1968-oakland-raiders-season)****L** 10–312–6Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum37,083[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810270rai.htm)
November 3[Houston Oilers](1968-houston-oilers-season)**L** 17–272–7Nippert Stadium24,012[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811030cin.htm)
November 10**[Kansas City Chiefs](1968-kansas-city-chiefs-season)****L** 9–162–8Nippert Stadium25,537[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811100cin.htm)
November 17at [Miami Dolphins](1968-miami-dolphins-season)**W** 38–213–8Miami Orange Bowl31,747[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811170mia.htm)
November 24**[Oakland Raiders](1968-oakland-raiders-season)****L** 0–343–9Nippert Stadium27,116[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811240cin.htm)
December 1at [Boston Patriots](1968-boston-patriots-season)**L** 14–333–10Fenway Park17,796[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812010nwe.htm)
December 8at [New York Jets](1968-new-york-jets-season)**L** 14–273–11Shea Stadium61,111[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812080nyj.htm)
**Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text.

Standings

Game summaries

Week 1

  • Friday September 6, 1968 at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance:
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:
SDGWillie Frazier 56-yard pass from John Hadl (kick failed)1329
Penalties-yards5–5610–100

Week 2

  • Sunday September 15
Week 2
Denver Broncos (0–1–0)
**Cincinnati Bengals** (1–1–0)
CINEssex Johnson 35-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)1024
Penalties-yards2–152–24

Week 3

  • Sunday September 22
Week 3
Buffalo Bills (0–3–0)
**Cincinnati Bengals** (2–1–0)
CIN Tommie Smiley 1-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)2334
Penalties-yards5–656–34

Week 4

Sunday September 29

Week 4
**San Diego Chargers** (3–0–0)
Cincinnati Bengals (2–2–0)
SDG John Hadl 1-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)3110
Penalties-yards6–518–90

Week 5

Sunday October 6

Week 5
Cincinnati Bengals (2–3–0)
**Denver Broncos** (1–3–0)
DEN Mike Haffner 4-yard pass from Steve Tensi (Bobby Howfield kick)710
Penalties-yards5–493–28

Week 6

Sunday October 13

Week 6
Cincinnati Bengals (2–4–0)
**Kansas City Chiefs** (5–1–0)
KAN Robert Holmes 1-yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick)313
Penalties-yards3–255–42

Week 7

Sunday October 20

Week 7
**Miami Dolphins** (2–3–1)
Cincinnati Bengals (2–5–0)
CIN Bob Trumpy 45-yard pass from Dewey Warren (pass failed)2422
Penalties-yards2–112–10

Week 8

Sunday October 28

Week 8
Cincinnati Bengals (2–6–0)
**Oakland Raiders** (5–2–0)
OAK George Blanda 48-yard field goal1031
Penalties-yards6–905–78

Week 9

Sunday November 3

Week 9
**Houston Oilers** (4–5–0)
Cincinnati Bengals (2–7–0)
CIN Paul Robinson 68-yard pass from Sam Wyche (Dale Livingston kick)2717
Penalties-yards3–354–45

Week 10

Sunday November 10

Week 10
**Kansas City Chiefs** (8–2–0)
Cincinnati Bengals (2–8–0)
KAN Robert Holmes 27-yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick)169
Penalties-yards4–453–44

Week 11

Sunday, November 17

Week 11
**Cincinnati Bengals** (3–8–0)
Miami Dolphins (3–6–1)
CIN Paul Robinson 5-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)3821
Penalties-yards2–313–22

Week 12

Sunday November 24

Week 12
**Oakland Raiders** (9–2–0)
Cincinnati Bengals (3–9–0)
OAK Billy Cannon 12-yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick)340
Penalties-yards9–925–52

Week 13

Sunday December 1

Week 13
Cincinnati Bengals (3–10–0)
**Boston Patriots** (4–8–0)
CIN Rod Sherman 27-yard pass from John Stofa (Rod Sherman kick)1433
Penalties-yards3–352–19

Week 14

Sunday December 8

Week 14
Cincinnati Bengals (3–11–0)
**New York Jets** (10–3–0)
NYJ Bake Turner 34-yard pass from Babe Parilli (Jim Turner kick)1427
Penalties-yards1–53–29

Personnel

Staff/Coaches

**1968 Cincinnati Bengals staff**

Final roster

  • 38 Estes Banks
  • 19 Essex Johnson
  • 40 Ron Lamb
  • 18 Paul Robinson
  • 23 Rod Sherman K
  • 72 Howard Fest T
  • 73 Pat Matson G
  • 64 Pete Perreault G
  • 75 Ernie Wright T
  • 85 Martin Baccaglio DE
  • 76 Jim Griffin DE
  • 89 Harry Gunner DE
  • 65 Bill Kindricks DT
  • 70 Andy Rice DT
  • 83 Bill Staley DT
  • 58 Al Beauchamp OLB
  • 55 Frank Buncom OLB
  • 52 Paul Elzey MLB
  • 69 Sherrill Headrick MLB
  • 56 Mike Hibler MLB
  • 66 Wayne McClure OLB
  • 43 Curt Frazier FS
  • 20 Bobby Hunt FS
  • 47 Charlie King CB
  • 30 Jess Phillips SS
  • 37 Bill Scott CB
  • 31 Fletcher Smith CB
  • 48 Phil Spiller SS
  • 44 Rex Keeling P

Awards and records

AFL Rookie of the Year

  • RB Paul Robinson

AFL Pro Bowl Selections

  • C Bob Johnson
  • TE Bob Trumpy

Highlights

Paul Robinson led the AFL in rushing with 1023 yards and was named Rookie of the Year.

References

References

  1. "1968 Cincinnati Bengals draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. "1968 Cincinnati Bengals". Maher Sports Media.
  3. "1968 Final Statistics (3–11–0)". Cincinnati Bengals.
  4. "Cincinnati Bengals History: 1968". Cincinnati Bengals.
  5. "1968 Cincinnati Bengals (AFL) - Pro Football Archives".
Info: Wikipedia Source

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