1970 Cincinnati Bengals season
1970 Cincinnati Bengals season | |
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Head coach | Paul Brown |
General manager | Paul Brown |
Home field | Riverfront Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 8–6 |
Division place | 1st AFC Central |
Playoff finish | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Colts) 0–17 |
The 1970 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's 1st season in the National Football League, and the 3rd 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, however, the Bengals would win the rest of their games, rallying to an 8–6 finish and champions of the newly formed AFC Central division qualifying for their first playoff appearance in franchise history. In their first playoff game, they 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.[1] 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,[2] the 2018 Indianapolis Colts, and the 2020 Washington Football Team.
Offseason[]
NFL Draft[]
1970 Cincinnati Bengals draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
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1 | 7 | Mike Reid * | Defensive tackle | Penn State | |
2 | 32 | Ron Carpenter | Defensive tackle | North Carolina State | |
3 | 60 | Chip Bennett | Linebacker | Abilene Christian | |
4 | 85 | Joe Stephen | Guard | Jackson State | |
4 | 104 | Billie Hayes | Defensive back | San Diego State | |
6 | 138 | Sandy Durko | Defensive back | USC | |
7 | 163 | Lemar Parrish * | Defensive back | Lincoln (MO) | |
8 | 188 | Bill Trout | Defensive tackle | Miami (FL) | |
9 | 216 | Bill Bolden | Running back | UCLA | |
10 | 241 | Nick Roman | Linebacker | Ohio State | |
11 | 266 | Samuel Wallace | Offensive tackle | Grambling State | |
12 | 294 | Thomas Truesdell | Defensive end | Ohio Wesleyan | |
13 | 319 | Paul Dunn | Wide receiver | U.S. International | |
14 | 344 | Joe Johnson | Wide receiver | Johnson C. Smith | |
15 | 372 | Marvin Weeks | Defensive back | Alcorn State | |
16 | 397 | Larry Ely | Linebacker | Iowa | |
17 | 422 | Richard Smith | Running back | Washington State | |
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Personnel[]
Staff / Coaches[]
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
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Final roster[]
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
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Regular season[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Riverfront_Stadium_in_Cincinnati%2C_Ohio.jpg/220px-Riverfront_Stadium_in_Cincinnati%2C_Ohio.jpg)
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[]
1970 Cincinnati Bengals Schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance | Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | September 20 | Oakland Raiders | W 31–21 | 56,616 | Riverfront Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | September 27 | at Detroit Lions | L 3–38 | 58,202 | Tiger Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | October 4 | Houston Oilers | L 13–20 | 55,094 | Riverfront Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | October 11 | at Cleveland Browns | L 27–30 | 83,520 | Cleveland Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | October 18 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 19–27 | 57,265 | Riverfront Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | October 25 | at Washington Redskins | L 0–20 | 50,415 | RFK Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | November 2 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 10–21 | 38,968 | Three Rivers Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | November 8 | at Buffalo Bills | W 43–14 | 43,587 | War Memorial Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | November 15 | Cleveland Browns | W 14–10 | 60,007 | Riverfront Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | November 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 34–7 | 59,276 | Riverfront Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | November 29 | New Orleans Saints | W 26–6 | 59,342 | Riverfront Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | December 6 | at San Diego Chargers | W 17–14 | 41,461 | San Diego Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | December 13 | at Houston Oilers | W 30–20 | 34,435 | Astrodome | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | December 20 | Boston Patriots | W 45–7 | 60,157 | Riverfront Stadium |
Standings[]
AFC Central | |||||||||
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W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Cincinnati Bengals | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 3–3 | 7–4 | 312 | 255 | W7 |
Cleveland Browns | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 4–2 | 7–4 | 286 | 265 | W1 |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 3–3 | 5–6 | 210 | 272 | L3 |
Houston Oilers | 3 | 10 | 1 | .231 | 2–4 | 3–7–1 | 217 | 352 | L3 |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Season summary[]
Week 1 vs Raiders[]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Raiders | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
Bengals | 7 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 31 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Date: September 20, 1970
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C)
- Game attendance: 56,616
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information | ||
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Team stats[]
1970 Cincinnati Bengals Team Stats | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TEAM STATS | Bengals | Opponents | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS | 210 | 236 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rushing | 100 | 87 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Passing | 97 | 131 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Penalty | 13 | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL NET YARDS | 3927 | 4178 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Avg Per Game | 280.5 | 298.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Plays | 831 | 874 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Avg. Per Play | 4.7 | 4.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NET YARDS RUSHING | 2057 | 1543 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Avg. Per Game | 146.9 | 110.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Rushes | 461 | 418 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NET YARDS PASSING | 1870 | 2635 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Avg. Per Game | 133.6 | 188.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sacked Yards Lost | 31–227 | 28–250 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross Yards | 2097 | 2885 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Att. Completions | 339–172 | 428–209 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Completion Pct. | 50.7 | 48.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Intercepted | 11 | 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PUNTS-AVERAGE | 79–46.2 | 80–43.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PENALTIES-YARDS | 71–831 | 81–784 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FUMBLES-BALL LOST | 22–12 | 28–16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TOUCHDOWNS | 34 | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rushing | 16 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Passing | 12 | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Returns | 6 | 2 |
Score by Periods | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Tot |
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Bengals | 56 | 111 | 85 | 60 | 312 |
Opponents | 49 | 82 | 52 | 72 | 255 |
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[]
1970 AFC Divisional Playoffs | ||||||
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Date | Opponent | W-L | Score | ATT. | Stadium | |
December 26 | Baltimore | L | 0–17 | 51,127 | Memorial |
Awards and records[]
Pro Bowl selections[]
- CB Lemar Parrish
- TE Bob Trumpy (3rd overall selection, 1st in NFL)
References[]
- ^ The record stood until being eclipsed in 1996 by both the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars, who each made the playoffs in their second seasons.
- ^ "Chiefs clinch playoffs on nailbiter, win ninth straight after 1-5 start". Sports.Yahoo.com.
- ^ "1970 Cincinnati Bengals draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
- ^ "1970 Cincinnati Bengals starters, roster, and players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
- ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 296
External links[]
- 1970 National Football League season by team
- Cincinnati Bengals seasons
- AFC Central championship seasons
- 1970 in sports in Ohio