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1970 Cincinnati Bengals season

NFL team season

1970 Cincinnati Bengals season

NFL team season

FieldValue
teamCincinnati Bengals
year1970
record8–6
division_place1st AFC Central
coachPaul Brown
general_managerPaul Brown
stadiumRiverfront Stadium
playoffsLost [Divisional Playoffs](1970-71-nfl-playoffs)
(at [Colts](1970-baltimore-colts-season)) 0–17
shortnavlinkBengals seasons

(at Colts) 0–17 The 1970 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's first season in the National Football League (NFL), and the third overall. The NFL-AFL merger took place before the season and the Bengals, who were placed in the same division as the "old-guard NFL" Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, were not expected to be playoff contenders. Nevertheless, the Bengals made their first NFL campaign a memorable one. After winning their first ever game as a member of the NFL, their inaugural game in the brand new Riverfront Stadium, they would lose six games in a row.

After the 1–6 start, the Bengals would win the rest of their games, rallying to an 8–6 finish and champions of the newly formed AFC Central division. In their first playoff game, the Bengals lost 17–0, to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Colts. Cincinnati quarterback Greg Cook was forced to the Injured Reserve list in training camp with a shoulder injury that would ultimately end his career; Virgil Carter took over as the starter. In just their third season, the 1970 Bengals set a league mark by being the first NFL expansion team to qualify for the playoffs within their first three seasons of existence. The team is one of only four teams since the 1970 merger to start the season 1–5 or worse and qualify for the playoffs, the others being the 2015 Kansas City Chiefs, the 2018 Indianapolis Colts, and the 2020 Washington Football Team.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1970 NFL draft

Personnel

Staff / Coaches

  • Owner/General Manager - Paul Brown

  • President – John Sawyer

  • Director of Player Personnel – Pete Brown

  • Head Coach/General Manager – Paul Brown

  • Offensive Backfield – Jack Donaldson

  • Receivers – Bill Walsh

  • Offensive Line – Bill Johnson

  • Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backfield – Chuck Weber

  • Defensive Line – Chuck Studley

  • Linebackers – Vince Costello

Final roster

Regular season

The Bengals began playing home games at Riverfront Stadium in 1970

The Bengals set a league record for most points in a game scored by the special teams, with 31 in a 43–14 victory at Buffalo on November 8, 1970. Cornerback Lemar Parrish scored two special teams touchdowns: one on a 95-yard kickoff return, and another on an 83-yard return of a blocked field goal attempt. Parrish is the only Bengals player ever to score two touchdowns in a game on returns and/or recoveries — and he did it three times. Kicker Horst Muhlmann added 15 points on five field goals, and four extra points by Muhlmann completed the special teams onslaught. The offense scored only one touchdown, a one-yard run by running back Jess Phillips. The defense scored a touchdown on an eight-yard fumble return by defensive end Royce Berry.

Schedule

Cincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"WeekCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"DateCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"OpponentCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"ResultCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"RecordCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"VenueCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"Recap1234567891011121314
September 20[Oakland Raiders](1970-oakland-raiders-season)**W** 31–211–0Riverfront Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197009200cin.htm)
September 27at [Detroit Lions](1970-detroit-lions-season)**L** 3–381–1Tiger Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197009270det.htm)
October 4**[Houston Oilers](1970-houston-oilers-season)****L** 13–201–2Riverfront Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010040cin.htm)
October 11at **[Cleveland Browns](1970-cleveland-browns-season)****L** 27–301–3Cleveland Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010110cle.htm)
October 18[Kansas City Chiefs](1970-kansas-city-chiefs-season)**L** 19–271–4Riverfront Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010180cin.htm)
October 25at [Washington Redskins](1970-washington-redskins-season)**L** 0–201–5Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197010250was.htm)
at **[Pittsburgh Steelers](1970-pittsburgh-steelers-season)****L** 10–211–6Three Rivers Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011020pit.htm)
November 8at [Buffalo Bills](1970-buffalo-bills-season)**W** 43–142–6War Memorial Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011080buf.htm)
November 15**Cleveland Browns****W** 14–103–6Riverfront Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011150cin.htm)
November 22**Pittsburgh Steelers****W** 34–74–6Riverfront Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011220cin.htm)
November 29[New Orleans Saints](1970-new-orleans-saints-season)**W** 26–65–6Riverfront Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197011290cin.htm)
December 6at [San Diego Chargers](1970-san-diego-chargers-season)**W** 17–146–6San Diego Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197012060sdg.htm)
December 13at **Houston Oilers****W** 30–207–6Astrodome[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197012130oti.htm)
December 20[Boston Patriots](1970-boston-patriots-season)**W** 45–78–6Riverfront Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197012200cin.htm)
**Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text.

Standings

Season summary

Week 1 vs Raiders

First quarter

  • CIN – Sam Wyche 5-yard run (Horst Muhlmann kick). ''Bengals 7–0. '''Drive:'''''
  • OAK – Fred Biletnikoff 20-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick). ''Tie 7–7. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
  • CIN – Essex Johnson 51-yard pass from Sam Wyche (Horst Muhlmann kick). ''Bengals 14–7. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
  • CIN – Paul Robinson 3-yard run (Horst Muhlmann kick). ''Bengals 21–7. '''Drive:'''''
  • OAK – Fred Biletnikoff 18-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick). ''Bengals 21–14. '''Drive:'''''
  • OAK – Alvin Wyatt 63-yard punt return (George Blanda kick). Tie 21–21.
  • CIN – Jess Phillips 76-yard run (Horst Muhlmann kick). ''Bengals 28–21. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
  • CIN – Horst Muhlmann 38-yard field goal. ''Bengals 31–21. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
  • OAK – Daryle Lamonica – 17/36, 265 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
  • CIN – Sam Wyche – 8/18, 147 yards, TD ;Top rushers
  • OAK – Charlie Smith – 8 rushes, 29 yards
  • CIN – Jess Phillips – 15 rushes, 130 yards, TD ;Top receivers
  • OAK – Fred Biletnikoff – 6 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TD
  • CIN – Bob Trumpy – 4 receptions, 67 yards

Team stats

1970 Cincinnati Bengals Team StatsTEAM STATSBengalsOpponents
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS210236
Rushing10087
Passing97131
Penalty1318
TOTAL NET YARDS39274178
Avg Per Game280.5298.4
Total Plays831874
Avg. Per Play4.74.8
NET YARDS RUSHING20571543
Avg. Per Game146.9110.2
Total Rushes461418
NET YARDS PASSING18702635
Avg. Per Game133.6188.2
Sacked Yards Lost31–22728–250
Gross Yards20972885
Att. Completions339–172428–209
Completion Pct.50.748.8
Intercepted1123
PUNTS-AVERAGE79–46.280–43.8
PENALTIES-YARDS71–83181–784
FUMBLES-BALL LOST22–1228–16
TOUCHDOWNS3431
Rushing1611
Passing1218
Returns62
Score by Periods1234Tot
Bengals561118560312
Opponents49825272255

Team leaders

  • Passing: Virgil Carter (278 Att, 143 Comp, 1647 Yds, 51.4 Pct, 9 TD, 9 Int, 66.9 Rating)
  • Rushing: Jess Phillips (163 Att, 648 Yds, 4.0 Avg, 76 Long, 4 TD)
  • Receiving: Chip Myers (32 Rec, 542 Yds, 16.9 Avg, 56 Long, 1 TD)
  • Scoring: Horst Muhlmann, 108 points (25 FG; 33 PAT)

Playoffs

Cincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"RoundCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"DateCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"OpponentCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"ResultCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"RecordCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"VenueCincinnati Bengalsyear=1970border=2}}"RecapDivisional
December 26at [Baltimore Colts](1970-baltimore-colts-season)**L** 0–170–1Memorial Stadium[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197012260clt.htm)

Awards and records

Pro Bowl selections

  • CB Lemar Parrish
  • TE Bob Trumpy

References

References

  1. The record stood until being eclipsed in [[1996 NFL season. 1996]] by both the [[1996 Carolina Panthers season. Carolina Panthers]] and [[1996 Jacksonville Jaguars season. Jacksonville Jaguars]], who each made the playoffs in their second seasons.
  2. "Chiefs clinch playoffs on nailbiter, win ninth straight after 1-5 start".
  3. "1970 Cincinnati Bengals draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  4. "1970 Cincinnati Bengals starters, roster, and players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  5. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN. 0-7611-2480-2, p. 296
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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