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 (NFL) 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
edit
- 1966 – Fearful the Cincinnati Reds baseball team would leave town and feeling pressure from local businessmen pushing for a pro football franchise, Cincinnati's city council approved the construction of Riverfront Stadium.
- 1967 – Brown's group was awarded an American Football League (AFL) expansion franchise. Brown named the team the Bengals, the name of Cincinnati's pro teams in the old AFL of the late 1930s. The Bengals acquired their first player late in the year when they traded two draft picks to Miami for quarterback John Stofa.
Week
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Record
|
Venue
|
Attendance
|
Recap
|
1
|
|
at San Diego Chargers
|
L 13–29
|
0–1
|
San Diego Stadium
|
33,687
|
Recap
|
2
|
September 15
|
Denver Broncos
|
W 24–10
|
1–1
|
Nippert Stadium
|
25,049
|
Recap
|
3
|
September 22
|
Buffalo Bills
|
W 34–23
|
2–1
|
Nippert Stadium
|
24,045
|
Recap
|
4
|
September 29
|
San Diego Chargers
|
L 10–31
|
2–2
|
Nippert Stadium
|
28,642
|
Recap
|
5
|
October 6
|
at Denver Broncos
|
L 7–10
|
2–3
|
Mile High Stadium
|
41,257
|
Recap
|
6
|
October 13
|
at Kansas City Chiefs
|
L 3–13
|
2–4
|
Municipal Stadium
|
47,096
|
Recap
|
7
|
October 20
|
Miami Dolphins
|
L 22–24
|
2–5
|
Nippert Stadium
|
25,942
|
Recap
|
8
|
October 27
|
at Oakland Raiders
|
L 10–31
|
2–6
|
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
|
37,083
|
Recap
|
9
|
November 3
|
Houston Oilers
|
L 17–27
|
2–7
|
Nippert Stadium
|
24,012
|
Recap
|
10
|
November 10
|
Kansas City Chiefs
|
L 9–16
|
2–8
|
Nippert Stadium
|
25,537
|
Recap
|
11
|
November 17
|
at Miami Dolphins
|
W 38–21
|
3–8
|
Miami Orange Bowl
|
31,747
|
Recap
|
12
|
November 24
|
Oakland Raiders
|
L 0–34
|
3–9
|
Nippert Stadium
|
27,116
|
Recap
|
13
|
December 1
|
at Boston Patriots
|
L 14–33
|
3–10
|
Fenway Park
|
17,796
|
Recap
|
14
|
December 8
|
at New York Jets
|
L 14–27
|
3–11
|
Shea Stadium
|
61,111
|
Recap
|
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
|
[3][4]
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings in the AFL.
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Bengals
|
7
|
3
|
3
|
0 |
13 |
Chargers
|
10
|
0
|
13
|
6 |
29 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
|
|
CIN |
SDG
|
CIN |
Paul Robinson 2-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
7 |
0
|
SDG |
Dennis Partee 42-yard field goal |
7 |
3
|
SDG |
Dickie Post 48-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick) |
7 |
10
|
CIN |
Dale Livingston 22-yard field goal |
10 |
10
|
SDG |
Brad Hubbert 1-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick) |
10 |
17
|
CIN |
Dale Livingston 35-yard field goal |
13 |
17
|
SDG |
Willie Frazier 48-yard pass from John Hadl (kick failed) |
13 |
23
|
SDG |
Willie Frazier 56-yard pass from John Hadl (kick failed) |
13 |
29
|
|
CIN |
SDG
|
First downs |
13 |
27
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
30–122–1 |
33–229–2
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
14–26–125–0–1 |
20–37–325–2–0
|
Sacked-yards |
2–21 |
0–0
|
Net pass yards |
104 |
325
|
Total yards |
226 |
554
|
Fumbles-lost |
4–1 |
2–2
|
Turnovers |
2 |
2
|
Penalties-yards |
5–56 |
10–100
|
Week 2
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Denver Broncos (0–1–0) |
0 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
10
|
Cincinnati Bengals (1–1–0) |
0 |
0 |
10 |
14 |
24
|
|
|
DEN |
CIN
|
CIN |
Dale Livingston 49-yard field goal |
0 |
3
|
CIN |
Bob Trumpy 58-yard pass from John Stofa (Dale Livingston kick) |
0 |
10
|
DEN |
Bob Humphreys 33-yard field goal |
3 |
10
|
DEN |
Eric Crabtree 5-yard pass from Jim M. LeClair (Bob Humphreys kick) |
10 |
10
|
CIN |
Warren McVea 54-yard pass from John Stofa (Dale Livingston kick) |
10 |
17
|
CIN |
Essex Johnson 35-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
10 |
24
|
|
DEN |
CIN
|
First downs |
15 |
11
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
25–78–0 |
27–104–1
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
14–33–171–1–1 |
12–22–224–2–0
|
Sacked-yards |
4–50 |
3–39
|
Net pass yards |
121 |
185
|
Total yards |
199 |
289
|
Fumbles-lost |
2–0 |
1–0
|
Turnovers |
1 |
0
|
Penalties-yards |
2–15 |
2–24
|
Week 3
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Buffalo Bills (0–3–0) |
0 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
23
|
Cincinnati Bengals (2–1–0) |
10 |
0 |
10 |
14 |
34
|
|
BUF |
CIN
|
CIN Dale Livingston 11-yard field goal |
0 |
3
|
CIN Warren McVea 80-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
0 |
10
|
BUF Max Anderson 14-yard rush (Mike Mercer kick) |
7 |
10
|
BUF Gary McDermott 5-yard rush (Mike Mercer kick) |
14 |
10
|
CIN Dale Livingston 39-yard field goal |
14 |
13
|
CIN Charlie King 32-yard interception return (Dale Livingston kick) |
14 |
20
|
CIN Al Beauchamp 17-yard interception return (Dale Livingston kick) |
14 |
27
|
BUF Max Anderson 100-yard kickoff return (Mike Mercer kick) |
21 |
27
|
BUF Safety, Robinson tackled in end zone |
23 |
27
|
CIN Tommie Smiley 1-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
23 |
34
|
|
BUF |
CIN
|
First downs |
17 |
9
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
24–92–2 |
29–149–2
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
15–36–160–0–2 |
8–18–68–0–1
|
Sacked-yards |
5–37 |
2–16
|
Net pass yards |
123 |
52
|
Total yards |
215 |
201
|
Fumbles-lost |
1–0 |
2–1
|
Turnovers |
2 |
2
|
Penalties-yards |
5–65 |
6–34
|
Sunday September 29
Week 4
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
San Diego Chargers (3–0–0) |
0 |
17 |
0 |
14 |
31
|
Cincinnati Bengals (2–2–0) |
3 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
10
|
|
SDG |
CIN
|
CIN Dale Livingston 21-yard field goal |
0 |
3
|
SDG Gary Garrison 10-yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick) |
7 |
3
|
SDG Dennis Partee 21-yard field goal |
10 |
3
|
SDG Gary Garrison 19-yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick) |
17 |
3
|
CIN Essex Johnson 6-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
17 |
10
|
SDG John Hadl 2-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick) |
24 |
10
|
SDG John Hadl 1-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick) |
31 |
10
|
|
SDG |
CIN
|
First downs |
18 |
14
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
37–101–2 |
25–66–1
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
11–24–215–2–1 |
17–29–153–0–2
|
Sacked-yards |
1–14 |
3–24
|
Net pass yards |
201 |
129
|
Total yards |
302 |
195
|
Fumbles-lost |
0–0 |
0–0
|
Turnovers |
1 |
2
|
Penalties-yards |
6–51 |
8–90
|
Sunday October 6
Week 5
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Cincinnati Bengals (2–3–0) |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7
|
Denver Broncos (1–3–0) |
0 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
10
|
|
CIN |
DEN
|
CIN Bobby Hunt 5-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
7 |
0
|
DEN Bobby Howfield 34-yard field goal |
7 |
3
|
DEN Mike Haffner 4-yard pass from Steve Tensi (Bobby Howfield kick) |
7 |
10
|
|
CIN |
DEN
|
First downs |
15 |
11
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
37–111–1 |
23–99–0
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
15–38–139–0–0 |
14–34–125–1–0
|
Sacked-yards |
1–3 |
2–13
|
Net pass yards |
136 |
112
|
Total yards |
247 |
211
|
Fumbles-lost |
3–1 |
1–0
|
Turnovers |
1 |
0
|
Penalties-yards |
5–49 |
3–28
|
Sunday October 13
Week 6
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Cincinnati Bengals (2–4–0) |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3
|
Kansas City Chiefs (5–1–0) |
0 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
13
|
|
CIN |
KAN
|
KAN Jan Stenerud 52-yard field goal |
0 |
3
|
CIN Dale Livingston 15-yard field goal |
3 |
3
|
KAN Jan Stenerud 46-yard field goal |
3 |
6
|
KAN Robert Holmes 1-yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) |
3 |
13
|
|
CIN |
KAN
|
First downs |
7 |
15
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
28–99–0 |
40–136–1
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
7–19–48–0–1 |
11–17–152–0–1
|
Sacked-yards |
3–31 |
3–23
|
Net pass yards |
17 |
129
|
Total yards |
116 |
265
|
Fumbles-lost |
1–0 |
2–1
|
Turnovers |
1 |
2
|
Penalties-yards |
3–25 |
5–42
|
Sunday October 20
Week 7
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Miami Dolphins (2–3–1) |
10 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
24
|
Cincinnati Bengals (2–5–0) |
0 |
2 |
14 |
6 |
22
|
|
MIA |
CIN
|
MIA Jimmy Keyes 26-yard field goal |
3 |
0
|
MIA Karl Noonan 2-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) |
10 |
0
|
CIN Safety, Gunner tackled Griese in end zone |
10 |
2
|
CIN Essex Johnson 41-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
10 |
9
|
CIN Paul Robinson 1-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
10 |
16
|
MIA Karl Noonan 20-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) |
17 |
16
|
MIA Stan Mitchell 31-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) |
24 |
16
|
CIN Bob Trumpy 45-yard pass from Dewey Warren (pass failed) |
24 |
22
|
|
MIA |
CIN
|
First downs |
21 |
14
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
38–139–0 |
30–143–2
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
16–29–186–3–0 |
14–21–184–1–1
|
Sacked-yards |
4–29 |
0–0
|
Net pass yards |
157 |
184
|
Total yards |
296 |
327
|
Fumbles-lost |
1–0 |
3–2
|
Turnovers |
0 |
3
|
Penalties-yards |
2–11 |
2–10
|
Sunday October 28
Week 8
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Cincinnati Bengals (2–6–0) |
0 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
10
|
Oakland Raiders (5–2–0) |
7 |
7 |
14 |
3 |
31
|
|
CIN |
OAK
|
OAK Fred Biletnikoff 14-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick) |
0 |
7
|
OAK Roger Hagberg 7-yard rush (George Blanda kick) |
0 |
14
|
CIN Paul Robinson 87-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
7 |
14
|
OAK Fred Biletnikoff 12-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick) |
7 |
21
|
CIN Dale Livingston 37-yard field goal |
10 |
21
|
OAK Roger Hagberg 7-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick) |
10 |
28
|
OAK George Blanda 48-yard field goal |
10 |
31
|
|
CIN |
OAK
|
First downs |
8 |
26
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
28–169–1 |
42–265–1
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
11–19–95–0–1 |
17–34–205–3–1
|
Sacked-yards |
7–36 |
4–31
|
Net pass yards |
59 |
174
|
Total yards |
228 |
439
|
Fumbles-lost |
3–1 |
2–2
|
Turnovers |
2 |
3
|
Penalties-yards |
6–90 |
5–78
|
Sunday November 3
Week 9
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Houston Oilers (4–5–0) |
10 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
27
|
Cincinnati Bengals (2–7–0) |
0 |
3 |
7 |
7 |
17
|
|
HOU |
CIN
|
HOU Wayne Walker 27-yard field goal |
3 |
0
|
HOU Alvin Reed 5-yard pass from Don Trull (Wayne Walker kick) |
10 |
0
|
CIN Dale Livingston 28-yard field goal |
10 |
3
|
HOU Hoyle Granger 1-yard rush (Wayne Walker kick) |
17 |
3
|
CIN Paul Robinson 4-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
17 |
10
|
HOU Mac Haik 10-yard pass from Don Trull (Wayne Walker kick) |
24 |
10
|
HOU Wayne Walker 41-yard field goal |
27 |
10
|
CIN Paul Robinson 68-yard pass from Sam Wyche (Dale Livingston kick) |
27 |
17
|
|
HOU |
CIN
|
First downs |
21 |
21
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
37–159–1 |
26–179–1
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
14–23–212–2–0 |
20–25–228–1–0
|
Sacked-yards |
1–10 |
5–33
|
Net pass yards |
202 |
195
|
Total yards |
361 |
374
|
Fumbles-lost |
1–0 |
1–0
|
Turnovers |
0 |
0
|
Penalties-yards |
3–35 |
4–45
|
Sunday November 10
Week 10
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Kansas City Chiefs (8–2–0) |
3 |
3 |
0 |
10 |
16
|
Cincinnati Bengals (2–8–0) |
0 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
9
|
|
KAN |
CIN
|
KAN Jan Stenerud 30-yard field goal |
3 |
0
|
CIN Dale Livingston 29-yard field goal |
3 |
3
|
KAN Jan Stenerud 11-yard field goal |
6 |
3
|
CIN Dale Livingston 16-yard field goal |
6 |
6
|
CIN Dale Livingston 23-yard field goal |
6 |
9
|
KAN Jan Stenerud 17-yard field goal |
9 |
9
|
KAN Robert Holmes 27-yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) |
16 |
9
|
|
KAN |
CIN
|
First downs |
16 |
15
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
39–255–1 |
30–157–0
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
5–15–62–0–1 |
12–21–161–0–2
|
Sacked-yards |
1–13 |
6–35
|
Net pass yards |
49 |
126
|
Total yards |
304 |
283
|
Fumbles-lost |
0–0 |
0–0
|
Turnovers |
1 |
2
|
Penalties-yards |
4–45 |
3–44
|
Sunday, November 17
Week 11
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Cincinnati Bengals (3–8–0) |
0 |
17 |
0 |
21 |
38
|
Miami Dolphins (3–6–1) |
7 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
21
|
|
CIN |
MIA
|
MIA Stan Mitchell 48-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) |
0 |
7
|
CIN Bob Trumpy 80-yard pass from Sam Wyche (Dale Livingston kick) |
7 |
7
|
CIN Dale Livingston 12-yard field goal |
10 |
7
|
CIN Paul Robinson 54-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
17 |
7
|
MIA Karl Noonan 7-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) |
17 |
14
|
MIA Stan Mitchell 38-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) |
17 |
21
|
CIN Warren McVea 55-yard pass from John Stofa (Dale Livingston kick) |
24 |
21
|
CIN Paul Robinson 15-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
31 |
21
|
CIN Paul Robinson 5-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) |
38 |
21
|
|
CIN |
MIA
|
First downs |
17 |
16
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
38–179–3 |
23–122–0
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
9–17–243–2–0 |
16–31–253–3–1
|
Sacked-yards |
0–0 |
6–49
|
Net pass yards |
243 |
204
|
Total yards |
422 |
326
|
Fumbles-lost |
2–1 |
3–1
|
Turnovers |
1 |
2
|
Penalties-yards |
2–31 |
3–22
|
Sunday November 24
Week 12
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Oakland Raiders (9–2–0) |
7 |
7 |
6 |
14 |
34
|
Cincinnati Bengals (3–9–0) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
|
OAK |
CIN
|
OAK Charlie H. Smith 7-yard rush (George Blanda kick) |
7 |
0
|
OAK Hewritt Dixon 5-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick) |
14 |
0
|
OAK George Blanda 43-yard field goal |
17 |
0
|
OAK George Blanda 27-yard field goal |
20 |
0
|
OAK Charlie H. Smith 9-yard rush (George Blanda kick) |
27 |
0
|
OAK Billy Cannon 12-yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick) |
34 |
0
|
|
OAK |
CIN
|
First downs |
33 |
7
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
46–208–2 |
25–116–0
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
26–34–396–2–0 |
7–14–44–0–1
|
Sacked-yards |
0–0 |
2–12
|
Net pass yards |
396 |
32
|
Total yards |
604 |
148
|
Fumbles-lost |
2–1 |
2–2
|
Turnovers |
1 |
3
|
Penalties-yards |
9–92 |
5–52
|
Sunday December 1
Week 13
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Cincinnati Bengals (3–10–0) |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
14
|
Boston Patriots (4–8–0) |
2 |
24 |
0 |
7 |
33
|
|
CIN |
BOS
|
BOS Safety, Satcher tackled Robinson in end zone |
0 |
2
|
BOS Gino Cappelletti 27-yard field goal |
0 |
5
|
BOS Jim Whalen 11-yard pass from Tom Sherman (Gino Cappelletti kick) |
0 |
12
|
BOS Gino Cappelletti 18-yard pass from Tom Sherman (Gino Cappelletti kick) |
0 |
19
|
BOS Jim Nance 5-yard rush (Gino Cappelletti kick) |
0 |
26
|
CIN Estes Banks 5-yard pass from John Stofa (Rod Sherman kick) |
7 |
26
|
BOS Jim Whalen 21-yard pass from Tom Sherman (Gino Cappelletti kick) |
7 |
33
|
CIN Rod Sherman 27-yard pass from John Stofa (Rod Sherman kick) |
14 |
33
|
|
CIN |
BOS
|
First downs |
14 |
20
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
30–106–0 |
37–129–1
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
18–37–126–2–1 |
12–25–142–3–1
|
Sacked-yards |
2–20 |
0–0
|
Net pass yards |
106 |
142
|
Total yards |
212 |
271
|
Fumbles-lost |
2–0 |
1–1
|
Turnovers |
1 |
2
|
Penalties-yards |
3–35 |
2–19
|
Sunday December 8
Week 14
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final
|
Cincinnati Bengals (3–11–0) |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
14
|
New York Jets (10–3–0) |
14 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
27
|
|
CIN |
NYJ
|
NYJ George Sauer 10-yard pass from Joe Namath (Jim Turner kick) |
0 |
7
|
NYJ Don Maynard 12-yard pass from Joe Namath (Jim Turner kick) |
0 |
14
|
CIN Paul Robinson 14-yard rush (Rod Sherman kick) |
7 |
14
|
NYJ Jim Turner 35-yard field goal |
7 |
17
|
NYJ Jim Turner 22-yard field goal |
7 |
20
|
CIN Jim Griffin 0-yard fumble return (Rod Sherman kick) |
14 |
20
|
NYJ Bake Turner 34-yard pass from Babe Parilli (Jim Turner kick) |
14 |
27
|
|
CIN |
NYJ
|
First downs |
6 |
19
|
Rush-yards-TDs |
38–107–1 |
29–85–0
|
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT |
3–7–58–0–0 |
21–39–299–3–1
|
Sacked-yards |
1–7 |
1–13
|
Net pass yards |
51 |
286
|
Total yards |
158 |
371
|
Fumbles-lost |
3–1 |
1–1
|
Turnovers |
1 |
2
|
Penalties-yards |
1–5 |
3–29
|
1968 Cincinnati Bengals staff
|
|
|
Front office
Coaching Staff
Offensive coaches
|
|
|
Defensive coaches
|
[5]
AFL Rookie of the Year
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AFL Pro Bowl Selections
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Paul Robinson led the AFL in rushing with 1023 yards and was named Rookie of the Year.