The 2008 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's 39th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 41st overall, and the 6th under head coach Marvin Lewis. The team finished the season with 4 wins, 11 losses, and 1 tie, and missed the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year.
Offseason
Coaching changes This season marked head coach Marvin Lewis's sixth year with the Bengals. His offensive coordinator, Bob Bratkowski, remained with the team, but his defensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, Chuck Bresnahan, was not retained. He was replaced by Mike Zimmer and Jeff FitzGerald replaced Ricky Hunley as linebacker coach.
Season theme Typically Lewis has had a theme for the upcoming season for the team to rally around. For the 2008 season it was "Now""Now" by Geoff Hobson on May 21, 2008
Departures
Madieu Williams, Safety signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Justin Smith, Defensive end signed with the San Francisco 49ers. Landon Johnson, Linebacker signed with the Carolina Panthers. Willie Anderson, the long time Offensive Lineman was released and signed by the division rival Baltimore Ravens. Rudi Johnson was released and signed by the Detroit Lions. Ahmad Brooks, Linebacker, who was allegedly involved in an assault for punching a woman in the face late April, was released before the season began. David Pollack, who was injured during his second season in the NFL with the Bengals and suffered paralysis, declined to return to football and officially retired. Chris Henry was released from the team on the same day a press release in the local paper announced his alleged involvement in an assault occurring within Cincinnati. A few weeks after Marvin Lewis made the public declaration that Henry would never play for the Bengals again he was re-signed. He was ineligible to play the first 4 regular season games as punishment for his involvement with criminal charges against him which were dropped before his reinstatement. Odell Thurman, a linebacker suspended for two consecutive years, was declared eligible to return to the NFL. He was then waived in May when Lewis cited that they had not seen enough of Odell to evaluate him properly. Less than a month later Odell was indefinitely suspended from the NFL for violating their substance abuse policy.
Signings Ben Utecht, a tight end previously with the Indianapolis Colts Antwan Odom, a defensive end previously with the Tennessee Titans Doug Gabriel, a wide receiver previously with the Oakland Raiders. He was released from the Bengals on May 29, 2008.
NFL draft
The Bengals gained an additional four picks for compensation of losing certain players.
Staff Cincinnati Bengals 2008 staff Front office Principal owner/president/general manager – Mike Brown Executive vice president – Katie Blackburn Senior vice president of player personnel – Pete Brown Vice president of player personnel – Paul H. Brown Vice President - John Sayer Vice President - Troy Blackburn Director of player personnel – Duke Tobin Director of Football Operations - Jim Lippincott
Head coaches Head coach – Marvin Lewis Assistant head coach/offensive line – Paul Alexander
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Bob Bratkowski Quarterbacks – Ken Zampese Running backs – Jim Anderson Wide receivers – Mike Sheppard Tight ends – Jonathan Hayes Assistant Offensive line - Bob Surace Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Mike Zimmer Defensive line – Jay Hayes Linebackers – Jeff FitzGerald Defensive backs – Kevin Coyle Assistant defensive backs – Louie Cioffi
Special teams coaches Special teams – Darrin Simmons Assistant special teams/assistant linebackers – Paul Guenther
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Chip Morton Assistant strength and conditioning – Ray Oliver
Roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Green Bay Packers W 20–17 1–0 Lambeau Field Recap 2 August 17 Detroit Lions L 10–27 1–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 3 New Orleans Saints L 0–13 1–2 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 4 Indianapolis Colts W 27–7 2–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 7 at Baltimore Ravens L 10–17 0–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 2 September 14 Tennessee Titans L 7–24 0–2 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 3 September 21 at New York Giants L 23–26 0–3 Giants Stadium Recap 4 September 28 Cleveland Browns L 12–20 0–4 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 5 October 5 at Dallas Cowboys L 22–31 0–5 Texas Stadium Recap 6 October 12 at New York Jets L 14–26 0–6 Giants Stadium Recap 7 October 19 Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–38 0–7 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 8 October 26 at Houston Texans L 6–35 0–8 Reliant Stadium Recap 9 November 2 Jacksonville Jaguars W 21–19 1–8 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 10Bye 11 November 16 Philadelphia Eagles T 13–13 1–8–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 12 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–27 1–9–1 Heinz Field Recap 13 November 30 Baltimore Ravens L 3–34 1–10–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 14 December 7 at Indianapolis Colts L 3–35 1–11–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 15 December 14 Washington Redskins W 20–13 2–11–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 16 December 21 at Cleveland Browns W 14–0 3–11–1 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 17 December 28 Kansas City Chiefs W 16–6 4–11–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Regular season results
Week 1: at Baltimore Ravens
Starter, Dexter Jackson, was inactive due to injury.
The Bengals began their 2008 campaign on the road against their AFC North foe, the Baltimore Ravens. In the first quarter, Cincinnati trailed early as Ravens WR Mark Clayton turned a double reverse play into a 42-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Bengals continued to struggle as kicker Matt Stover gave Baltimore a 21-yard field goal. Cincinnati would reply as kicker Shayne Graham nailed a 43-yard field goal. However, in the third quarter, the Bengals continued to show their dismal defense as Ravens QB Joe Flacco got a 38-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Bengals tried to rally as CB Johnathan Joseph returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown. However, Baltimore's defense stiffened and held on for the win.
With the loss, Cincinnati began their season at 0–1. It became the team's first regular season opening loss since 2004.
Week 2: vs. Tennessee Titans
Starter Dexter Jackson was inactive for the game due to injury.
Hoping to rebound from their divisional road loss to the Ravens, the Bengals played their Week 2 home opener against the Tennessee Titans. At the beginning of the game the winds were marked at and picked up intensity as the game continued, with gusts to hurricane force at times due to the passage of the remnants of Hurricane Ike. After a scoreless first quarter, Cincinnati trailed as Titans RB LenDale White got a 1-yard TD run. The Bengals would respond with RB Chris Perry getting his first career TD on a 13-yard run. However, Tennessee would begin its domination with QB Kerry Collins completing an 11-yard TD pass to WR Justin Gage. In the third quarter, Cincinnati continued to struggle as kicker Rob Bironas nailed a 34-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Titans sealed the win with LB Keith Bulluck blocking and recovering a punt within Cincy's endzone for a touchdown.
During the game, the wind was such a factor that it aided the Titan's punter who, with a quick 1-step drop, kicked a punt travelling 70 yards past scrimmage before hitting the ground. It appeared to contribute to difficulties with short passes and long snaps.
With the loss, the Bengals fell to 0–2. It became the team's first 0-2 start since 2003.
Week 3: at New York Giants
Starters Ben Utecht, Johnathan Joseph, & Dexter Jackson, were inactive for the game due to injuries.
Trying to snap their two-game losing skid, the Bengals flew to Giants Stadium for a Week 3 matchup with the defending Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants. In the first quarter, Cincinnati scratched first with kicker Shayne Graham getting a 22-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Giants responded with RB Brandon Jacobs getting a 1-yard TD run. The Bengals would strike back with RB Chris Perry getting a 25-yard TD run. New York tied the game with kicker John Carney getting a 24-yard field goal, yet Cincinnati would close out the half with Graham's 30-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Giants would tie the game with Carney kicking a 46-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, New York would take the lead with Carney's 26-yard field goal. The Bengals would reclaim its lead with QB Carson Palmer completing a 17-yard TD pass to WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The Giants responded with QB Eli Manning completing a 4-yard TD pass to TE Kevin Boss, yet Cincinnati tied the game with Graham's 21-yard field goal. However, in overtime, New York came out on top as Carney nailing the game-winning 22-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Bengals fell to 0–3 as they prepared to face the Cleveland Browns the next game who were also 0–3. This was the team's first 0-3 start since 2003.
Week 4: vs. Cleveland Browns
Still searching for their first win, the Bengals went home for a Week 4 AFC North duel with the Cleveland Browns in Round 1 of 2008's Battle of Ohio. With QB Carson Palmer out with a sore right elbow, back-up QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was named the starter.
In the first quarter, Cincinnati trailed early as Browns kicker Phil Dawson got a 25-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Bengals took the lead with kicker Shayne Graham getting a 42-yard and a 45-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, Cleveland regained the lead in the fourth quarter with QB Derek Anderson completing a 4-yard TD pass to WR Braylon Edwards, along with RB Jamal Lewis getting a 1-yard TD run. Cincinnati would respond with Fitzpatrick completing a 4-yard TD pass to WR Chad Ocho Cinco, yet the Browns pulled away with Dawson nailing a 29-yard field goal.
With yet another loss, the Bengals fell to 0–4 for the first time since 2002, while the Browns improved to 1–3.
Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys
Still searching for their first win, the Bengals flew to Texas Stadium for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Dallas Cowboys. In the first quarter, Cincinnati trailed early as Cowboys kicker Nick Folk got a 30-yard field goal, along with RB Felix Jones getting a 33-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Dallas increased its lead as QB Tony Romo completed a 4-yard TD pass to TE Jason Witten. The Bengals would end the half with kicker Shayne Graham getting a 41-yard and a 31-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Cincinnati tried to rally as QB Carson Palmer completed an 18-yard TD pass to WR T. J. Houshmandzadeh. In the fourth quarter, the Bengals got closer as Graham got a 40-yard field goal, yet the Cowboys answered with Romo completing a 57-yard TD pass to WR Terrell Owens. Cincinnati tried to come back as Palmer completed a 10-yard TD pass to Houshmandzadeh (with a failed 2-point conversion), but Dallas pulled away with Romo completing a 15-yard TD pass to WR Patrick Crayton.
With the loss, the Bengals fell to 0–5.
Week 6: at New York Jets
Still looking for their first win, the Bengals flew to The Meadowlands for a Week 6 duel with the throwback-clad New York Jets. With QB Carson Palmer out again nursing an injured elbow, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was again named the starter.
In the first quarter, Cincinnati pounced first as strong safety Chinedum Ndukwe returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown. The Jets responded with QB Brett Favre completing a 2-yard TD pass to RB Thomas Jones. In the second quarter, New York took the lead as kicker Jay Feely got a 38-yard field goal, while Jones got a 7-yard TD run. The Bengals closed out the half with Fitzpatrick getting a 1-yard TD run.
In the third quarter, the Jets began to pull away as Feely got a 43-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, New York sealed the win as Jones got a 1-yard TD run (with a failed 2-point conversion).