1968 Cincinnati Bengals season


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 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

Game summaries

Week 1

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, CaliforniaGame time:Game weather:Game attendance:Referee:TV announcers:
CINSDG
CINPaul Robinson 2-yard rush 70
SDGDennis Partee 42-yard field goal73
SDGDickie Post 48-yard rush 710
CINDale Livingston 22-yard field goal1010
SDGBrad Hubbert 1-yard rush 1017
CINDale Livingston 35-yard field goal1317
SDGWillie Frazier 48-yard pass from John Hadl 1323
SDGWillie Frazier 56-yard pass from John Hadl 1329

CINSDG
First downs1327
Rush-yards-TDs30–122–133–229–2
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT14–26–125–0–120–37–325–2–0
Sacked-yards2–210–0
Net pass yards104325
Total yards226554
Fumbles-lost4–12–2
Turnovers22
Penalties-yards5–5610–100

Week 2

  • Sunday September 15
DENCIN
CINDale Livingston 49-yard field goal03
CINBob Trumpy 58-yard pass from John Stofa 010
DENBob Humphreys 33-yard field goal310
DENEric Crabtree 5-yard pass from Jim M. LeClair 1010
CINWarren McVea 54-yard pass from John Stofa 1017
CINEssex Johnson 35-yard rush 1024

Week 3

BUFCIN
First downs179
Rush-yards-TDs24–92–229–149–2
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT15–36–160–0–28–18–68–0–1
Sacked-yards5–372–16
Net pass yards12352
Total yards215201
Fumbles-lost1–02–1
Turnovers22
Penalties-yards5–656–34

Week 4

Sunday September 29
SDGCIN
First downs1814
Rush-yards-TDs37–101–225–66–1
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT11–24–215–2–117–29–153–0–2
Sacked-yards1–143–24
Net pass yards201129
Total yards302195
Fumbles-lost0–00–0
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards6–518–90

Week 5

Sunday October 6
CINDEN
First downs1511
Rush-yards-TDs37–111–123–99–0
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT15–38–139–0–014–34–125–1–0
Sacked-yards1–32–13
Net pass yards136112
Total yards247211
Fumbles-lost3–11–0
Turnovers10
Penalties-yards5–493–28

Week 6

Sunday October 13
CINKAN
First downs715
Rush-yards-TDs28–99–040–136–1
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT7–19–48–0–111–17–152–0–1
Sacked-yards3–313–23
Net pass yards17129
Total yards116265
Fumbles-lost1–02–1
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards3–255–42

Week 7

Sunday October 20
MIACIN
First downs2114
Rush-yards-TDs38–139–030–143–2
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT16–29–186–3–014–21–184–1–1
Sacked-yards4–290–0
Net pass yards157184
Total yards296327
Fumbles-lost1–03–2
Turnovers03
Penalties-yards2–112–10

Week 8

Sunday October 28
CINOAK
First downs826
Rush-yards-TDs28–169–142–265–1
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT11–19–95–0–117–34–205–3–1
Sacked-yards7–364–31
Net pass yards59174
Total yards228439
Fumbles-lost3–12–2
Turnovers23
Penalties-yards6–905–78

Week 9

Sunday November 3
HOUCIN
First downs2121
Rush-yards-TDs37–159–126–179–1
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT14–23–212–2–020–25–228–1–0
Sacked-yards1–105–33
Net pass yards202195
Total yards361374
Fumbles-lost1–01–0
Turnovers00
Penalties-yards3–354–45

Week 10

Sunday November 10
KANCIN
First downs1615
Rush-yards-TDs39–255–130–157–0
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT5–15–62–0–112–21–161–0–2
Sacked-yards1–136–35
Net pass yards49126
Total yards304283
Fumbles-lost0–00–0
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards4–453–44

Week 11

Sunday, November 17
CINMIA
First downs1716
Rush-yards-TDs38–179–323–122–0
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT9–17–243–2–016–31–253–3–1
Sacked-yards0–06–49
Net pass yards243204
Total yards422326
Fumbles-lost2–13–1
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards2–313–22

Week 12

Sunday November 24
OAKCIN
First downs337
Rush-yards-TDs46–208–225–116–0
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT26–34–396–2–07–14–44–0–1
Sacked-yards0–02–12
Net pass yards39632
Total yards604148
Fumbles-lost2–12–2
Turnovers13
Penalties-yards9–925–52

Week 13

Sunday December 1
CINBOS
First downs1420
Rush-yards-TDs30–106–037–129–1
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT18–37–126–2–112–25–142–3–1
Sacked-yards2–200–0
Net pass yards106142
Total yards212271
Fumbles-lost2–01–1
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards3–352–19

Week 14

Sunday December 8
CINNYJ
First downs619
Rush-yards-TDs38–107–129–85–0
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT3–7–58–0–021–39–299–3–1
Sacked-yards1–71–13
Net pass yards51286
Total yards158371
Fumbles-lost3–11–1
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards1–53–29

Awards and records

AFL Rookie of the Year

AFL Pro Bowl Selections

Highlights

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