2024 Cincinnati Bengals season
The 2024 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 55th in the National Football League, their 57th overall, their 25th playing their home games at Paycor Stadium and their sixth under head coach Zac Taylor. They matched their 9–8 record from last year after a Week 18 win against the [2024 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers], but missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Despite a 4–8 start, their worst since 2020, the Bengals rallied to win their final five games and remain in playoff contention late in the season. However, they were eliminated when the Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. The season was largely defined by stellar offensive play along with poor defensive play. On the offensive side of the ball, Joe Burrow led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns and was responsible for the Bengals having the best passing offense. Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase led all other receivers in receiving yards, receptions, and receiving touchdowns, becoming the 7th wide receiver to win the triple crown in the Super Bowl era. On the defensive side, the Bengals, despite having the league's sack leader Trey Hendrickson, had the 7th-worst scoring defense, allowing 30 or more points in six of their games, and were 4–7 in one-score games. They also set an NFL record for most losses while still scoring 30 or more points in a single game, with four. This included two late double-digit comebacks by their divisional rival, the [2024 2024 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens], in both games played. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was let go by the team following the end of the season.
Offseason
Trades
- March 12 – Running back Joe Mixon was traded to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round pick.
Draft
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
| 1 | 18 | Amarius Mims | OT | Georgia | |
| 2 | 49 | Kris Jenkins | DT | Michigan | |
| 3 | 80 | Jermaine Burton | WR | Alabama | |
| 3 | 97 | McKinnley Jackson | DT | Texas A&M | Compensatory selection |
| 4 | 115 | Erick All | TE | Iowa | |
| 5 | 149 | Josh Newton | CB | TCU | |
| 6 | 194 | Tanner McLachlan | TE | Arizona | |
| 6 | 214 | Cedric Johnson | DE | Mississippi | Compensatory selection |
| 7 | 224 | Daijahn Anthony | S | Mississippi | From Texans |
| 7 | 237 | Matt Lee | C | Miami |
Draft trades
| Name | Position | College | Ref. |
| Justin Blazek | DE | UW–Platteville | |
| Cole Burgess | WR | Cortland | |
| Noah Cain | RB | LSU | |
| Aaron Casey | LB | Indiana | |
| Elijah Collins | RB | Oklahoma State | |
| Michael Dowell | S | Miami (OH) | |
| Cam Grandy | TE | Illinois State | |
| P. J. Jules | S | Southern Illinois | |
| Rocky Lombardi | QB | Northern Illinois | |
| Austin McNamara | P | Texas Tech | |
| Eric Miller | OT | Louisville | |
| Tre Mosley | WR | Michigan State | |
| Maema Njongmeta | LB | Wisconsin | |
| Lance Robinson | CB | Tulane |
Regular season
Schedule
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.Game summaries
Week 1: vs. New England Patriots
The Bengals started their season at home against the Patriots. After a scoreless first quarter, the Patriots were able to put up a 10–0 lead in the second, going into halftime. In the third quarter, the Pats made it 13–0 by way of Joey Slye's 35-yard field goal. The Bengals finally got on the board when Zack Moss ran for a 5-yard touchdown to make it 13–7. Slye would put the Pats up 16–7 by way of a 37-yard field goal. The Bengals would end the scoring when Evan McPherson kicked a 51-yard field goal to make the final score 16–10.With the loss, the Bengals started 0–1 for the third consecutive year.
Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs
After a tough loss at home, the Bengals then traveled to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs. In the first quarter, the Bengals scored first when Evan McPherson kicked a 22-yard field goal to make it 3–0. The Chiefs then made it 3–3 when Harrison Butker kicked a 19-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Bengals took the lead when Joe Burrow found Andrei Iosivas on a 5-yard touchdown pass to make it 10–3. The Chiefs tied it up at 10–10 when Patrick Mahomes connected with Rashee Rice on a 44-yard touchdown pass. The Bengals then made it 16–10 at halftime by way of a couple field goals by McPherson from 33 and 48 yards out. In the third quarter, the Chiefs retook the lead when Mahomes found Wanya Morris on a 1-yard touchdown pass to make it 17–16. The Bengals took the lead back later on in the quarter when Burrow and Iosivas connected again on a 3-yard touchdown pass to make it 22–17. In the fourth quarter, The Chiefs moved ahead 23–22 when Chamarri Conner returned a fumble 38 yards for a touchdown. The Bengals moved back into the lead when McPherson kicked a 52-yard field goal. Finally, the Chiefs completed the comeback when Butker kicked a 51-yard field goal to make the final score 26–25.With the loss, the Bengals fell to 0–2 for the third consecutive year.
Week 3: vs. Washington Commanders
Despite the loss, which dropped Cincinnati to 0–3 for the first time since 2019, this game became the sixth regular season "no punt game" in recorded NFL history. In particular, both Washington and Cincinnati finished the game without a punt or a turnover, the first time this has occurred since at least 1940, when NFL stats began to be regularly recorded.Week 4: at Carolina Panthers
The Bengals defeated the Panthers and their former quarterback, Andy Dalton, who was filling in for an injured Bryce Young. This was the first time the Bengals had defeated the Panthers in Charlotte since 2010. The Bengals moved to 1-3.Week 5: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Despite a career day for Joe Burrow, the Bengals could not contain Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense, choking away leads of 31-21 and 38-28 and falling in overtime to fall to 1-4 on the season.Week 6: at New York Giants
The Bengals recorded their first road win against the Giants, having not done so in 4 other attempts.Week 7: at Cleveland Browns
This was Joe Burrow's first win in Cleveland and the Bengals first win in Cleveland since 2017.Week 8: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Bengals returned home to take on the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite taking an early 10–3 lead, the Bengals could not slow down the visiting Eagles as they would be outscored 34–7 by Philadelphia the rest of the way. Cincinnati fell to 0–4 at home on the season with the 37–17 blowout loss, their only multiple-score loss of the 2024 season. This was the Bengals' first loss to the Eagles since the 2000 season, and their first ever home loss to Philadelphia.The game traded time slots with the Chicago Bears-Washington Commanders matchup. As such, this was no longer the marquee Sunday matchup of the day.