1981 Cincinnati Bengals season

The 1981 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League, and the 14th overall. The team won their first AFC Championship, but lost Super Bowl XVI to 1981 [San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco].
Cincinnati had at least a share of the AFC Central lead the entire season. On December 13, quarterback Ken Anderson threw two touchdown passes as the Bengals clinched the division with a 17–10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers], the Bengals' only other rival for the division title by that point in the season.
Ken Anderson led the NFL in passing in 1981 with a 98.5 rating.
On January 3, 1982, the Bengals beat Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo], 28–21, in an AFC divisional playoff game. A week later, playing in 1981–82 NFL playoffs#AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 27, [San Diego Chargers 7|their first AFC Championship Game] in brutally cold weather, the Bengals defeated San Diego Chargers season|San Diego] 27–7 at Riverfront Stadium. In a temperature of with a wind-chill factor of, this game is referred to as the Freezer Bowl.
In Super Bowl XVI on January 24, 1982, in Pontiac, Michigan, the Bengals trailed 20–0 at halftime and lost to San Francisco, 26–21.

Offseason

Before the season, the Bengals unveiled new uniforms with tiger-striped helmets, jerseys and pants.