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2002 Cincinnati Bengals season

NFL team season

Field	Value
team	Cincinnati Bengals
year	2002
record	2–14
division_place	4th AFC North
coach	Dick LeBeau
stadium	Paul Brown Stadium
playoffs	Did not qualify
pro_bowlers	FB Lorenzo Neal
shortnavlink	Bengals seasons

The 2002 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's 33rd season in the National Football League (NFL), the 35th overall, and the second and final full season under head coach Dick LeBeau. With a record of 2–14, however, they were the worst team in football in 2002. The team's struggles continued as they lost their first seven contests losing by an average of 19 points in each game. The Bengals would finally garner their first victory in Week 8 by soundly defeating the expansion Houston Texans on the road 38–3. The winning would not last long, however, as the Bengals lost their next six games to fall to 1–13, this lethargic result was later matched by the 2019 team, which also finished at 2–14.

In their final game at home, the Bengals would stun the New Orleans Saints 20–13 to earn their second win on the season, but there would be no saving the Bengals from setting a new franchise record for losses as they finished the season with a 27–9 loss to the Buffalo Bills on the road to finish with a league-worst 2–14 record. This resulted in the Bengals owner Mike Brown firing head coach Dick LeBeau and replacing him with Washington's defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis.

By being the worst team in 2002, they earned the first pick in the 2003 NFL draft, which they would use to draft Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Carson Palmer out of USC, and releasing embattled quarterback Akili Smith.

Offseason

Additions		Subtractions
QB Gus Frerotte (Broncos)
WR Michael Westbrook (Redskins)
CB Jeff Burris (Colts)

NFL draft

Main article: 2002 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Player	Position	College
Dwayne Levels	Linebacker	Oklahoma State
Reggie Myles	Defensive back	Alabama
Thatcher Szalay	Center	Montana

Personnel

President – Mike Brown
Head coach – Dick LeBeau
Offensive coordinator – Bob Bratkowski
Quarterbacks – Ken Anderson
Running backs – Jim Anderson
Wide receivers – Steve Mooshagian
Tight ends – John Garrett
Offensive line – Paul Alexander
Offensive assistant – Bob Surace
Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Mark Duffner
Defensive line – Tim Krumrie
Cornerbacks – Kevin Coyle
Safeties – Darren Perry
Defensive assistant – Louie Cioffi
Special teams – Al Roberts
Strength and conditioning – Kim Wood
Strength and conditioning assistant – Rodney Holman

Roster

Regular season

Schedule

Cincinnati Bengals	year=2002	border=2}}"	Week	Cincinnati Bengals	year=2002
1	September 8, 2002	[San Diego Chargers](2002-san-diego-chargers-season)	L 6–34	0–1	53,705
2	September 15, 2002	at [Cleveland Browns](2002-cleveland-browns-season)	L 7–20	0–2	73,358
3	September 22, 2002	at [Atlanta Falcons](2002-atlanta-falcons-season)	L 3–30	0–3	68,129
4	September 29, 2002	[Tampa Bay Buccaneers](2002-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)	L 7–35	0–4	57,234
5	October 6, 2002	at [Indianapolis Colts](2002-indianapolis-colts-season)	L 21–28	0–5	56,570
6	October 13, 2002	[Pittsburgh Steelers](2002-pittsburgh-steelers-season)	L 7–34	0–6	63,900
7	Bye
8	October 27, 2002	[Tennessee Titans](2002-tennessee-titans-season)	L 24–30	0–7	52,822
9	November 3, 2002	at [Houston Texans](2002-houston-texans-season)	W 38–3	1–7	69,827
10	November 10, 2002	at [Baltimore Ravens](2002-baltimore-ravens-season)	L 27–38	1–8	69,024
11	November 17, 2002	[Cleveland Browns](2002-cleveland-browns-season)	L 20–27	1–9	64,060
12	November 24, 2002	at [Pittsburgh Steelers](2002-pittsburgh-steelers-season)	L 21–29	1–10	60,473
13	December 1, 2002	[Baltimore Ravens](2002-baltimore-ravens-season)	L 23–27	1–11	44,878
14	December 8, 2002	at [Carolina Panthers](2002-carolina-panthers-season)	L 31–52	1–12	66,799
15	December 15, 2002	[Jacksonville Jaguars](2002-jacksonville-jaguars-season)	L 15–29	1–13	42,092
16	December 22, 2002	[New Orleans Saints](2002-new-orleans-saints-season)	W 20–13	2–13	43,544
17	December 29, 2002	at [Buffalo Bills](2002-buffalo-bills-season)	L 9–27	2–14	47,850

Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. San Diego Chargers

First quarter

SDG – Steve Christie 28-yard field goal, 8:48. ''Chargers 3–0. '''Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 6:12.'''''
SDG – Josh Norman 1-yard pass from Drew Brees (Steve Christie kick), 1:18. ''Chargers 10–0. '''Drive: 6 plays, 14 yards, 3:13.''''' Second quarter
SDG – Steve Christie 27-yard field goal, 13:14. ''Chargers 13–0. '''Drive: 6 plays, 58 yards, 2:03.'''''
SDG – LaDainian Tomlinson 1-yard run (Steve Christie kick), 0:19. ''Chargers 20–0. '''Drive: 15 plays, 95 yards, 7:55.''''' Third quarter
CIN – Neil Rackers 21-yard field goal, 11:17. ''Chargers 20–3. '''Drive: 9 plays, 77 yards, 3:43.'''''
SDG – Curtis Conway 9-yard pass from Drew Brees (Steve Christie kick), 8:42. ''Chargers 27–3. '''Drive: 5 plays, 64 yards, 2:35.''''' Fourth quarter
SDG – Terrell Fletcher 1-yard run (Steve Christie kick), 9:14. ''Chargers 34–3. '''Drive: 12 plays, 78 yards, 8:31.'''''
CIN – Neil Rackers 54-yard field goal, 5:43. ''Chargers 34–6. '''Drive: 11 plays, 41 yards, 3:31.''''' Top passers
SDG – Drew Brees – 15/19, 160 yards, 2 TD
CIN – Gus Frerotte – 18/31, 198 yards, INT Top rushers
SDG – LaDainian Tomlinson – 21 rushes, 114 yards, TD
CIN – Gus Frerotte – 2 rushes, 14 yards Top receivers
SDG – LaDainian Tomlinson – 3 receptions, 45 yards SDG – Tim Dwight – 3 receptions, 45 yards
CIN – Danny Farmer – 2 receptions, 54 yards

Week 3: at Atlanta Falcons

First quarter

ATL – Jay Feely 44-yard field goal, 10:01. ''Falcons 3–0. '''Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 4:69.'''''
ATL – Jay Feely 26-yard field goal, 7:19. ''Falcons 6–0. '''Drive: 4 plays, 7 yards, 1:48.'''''
ATL – Brian Finneran 20-yard pass from Michael Vick (Jay Feely kick), 1:57. ''Falcons 13–0. '''Drive: 7 plays, 55 yards, 3:28.''''' Second quarter
ATL – Brian Finneran 13-yard pass from Michael Vick (Jay Feely kick), 4:56. ''Falcons 20–0. '''Drive: 4 plays, 24 yards, 1:42.'''''
CIN – Neil Rackers 24-yard field goal, 0:03. ''Falcons 20–3. '''Drive: 14 plays, 53 yards, 4:53.''''' Third quarter
ATL – Warrick Dunn 4-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 5:07. ''Falcons 27–3. '''Drive: 11 plays, 74 yards, 7:00.''''' Fourth quarter
ATL – Jay Feely 34-yard field goal, 7:30. ''Falcons 30–3. '''Drive: 10 plays, 46 yards, 5:39.''''' Top passers
CIN – Jon Kitna – 18/35, 136 yards, INT
ATL – Michael Vick – 16/26, 174 yards, 2 TD Top rushers
CIN – Corey Dillon – 18 rushes, 66 yards
ATL – TJ Duckett – 18 rushes, 67 yards Top receivers
CIN – Peter Warrick – 4 receptions, 34 yards
ATL – Brian Finneran – 6 receptions, 77 yards, 2 TD

Week 17: at Buffalo Bills

First quarter

BUF – Mike Hollis 32-yard field goal, 8:36. ''Bills 3-0. '''Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:15.'''''
BUF – Mike Hollis 25-yard field goal, 1:12. ''Bills 6-0. '''Drive: 4 plays, 4, yards, 1:32.''''' Second quarter
BUF – Drew Bledsoe 7-yard run (Mike Hollis kick), 10:25. ''Bills 13-0. '''Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 4:15.'''''
BUF – Eric Moulds 2-yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Mike Hollis kick), 2:41. ''Bills 20-0. '''Drive: 10 plays, 54 yards, 5:12.'''''
CIN – Neil Rackers 19-yard field goal, 0:24. ''Bills 20-3. '''Drive: 11 plays, 78 yards, 2:17.''''' Third quarter
BUF – Larry Centers 4-yard run (Mike Hollis kick), 1:37. ''Bills 27-3. '''Drive: 9 plays, 58 yards, 4:11.''''' Fourth quarter
CIN – Jon Kitna 6-yard run (run failed), 8:05. ''Bills 27-9. '''Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 2:49.''''' Top passers
CIN – Jon Kitna – 19/35, 241 yards, 2 INT
BUF – Drew Bledsoe – 23/31, 231 yards, TD Top rushers
CIN – Corey Dillon – 13 rushes, 53 yards
BUF – Travis Henry – 30 rushes, 80 yards Top receivers
CIN – Chad Johnson – 6 receptions, 123 yards
BUF – Eric Moulds – 9 receptions, 75 yards, TD With the loss, the Bengals ended their season at a franchise worst 2-14 record (eventually tied by the 2019 Bengals) while also going 1-7 on the road and finishing dead last in NFL. Thus, securing the #1 pick for the 2003 NFL Draft. Head coach Dick LeBeau would end up being fired after the game.

Standings

Division

Conference

Team leaders

Passing

Rushing

Receiving

Defensive

Kevin Kaesviharn	62	0.0	2	1	0

Kicking and punting

Neil Rackers	18	15	83.3%	32	30	93.8%	75

Special teams

T. J. Houshmandzadeh	13	288	22.2	44	0	24	117	4.9	34	0

Awards and records

Pro Bowl Selections

Lorenzo Neal FB, AFC Pro-Bowl Selection

Milestones

Corey Dillon, 6th 1,000 yard rushing (1,311 yards) season

References

[http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/cincy/bengals.html Season statistics and summary at Sports E-Cyclopedia]
"2002 Cincinnati Bengals draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
[http://www.nfl.com/player/coreydillon/2500396/profile Corey Dilon, RB at NFL]

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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