The 1970 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's first season in the National Football League (NFL), and the third overall. The NFL-AFL merger took place before the season and the Bengals, who were placed in the same division as the "old-guard NFL" Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, were not expected to be playoff contenders. Nevertheless, the Bengals made their first NFL campaign a memorable one. After winning their first ever game as a member of the NFL, their inaugural game in the brand new Riverfront Stadium, they would lose six games in a row.

After the 1–6 start, the Bengals would win the rest of their games, rallying to an 8–6 finish and champions of the newly formed AFC Central division. In their first playoff game, the Bengals lost 17–0, to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Colts. Cincinnati quarterback Greg Cook was forced to the Injured Reserve list in training camp with a shoulder injury that would ultimately end his career; Virgil Carter took over as the starter. In just their third season, the 1970 Bengals set a league mark by being the first NFL expansion team to qualify for the playoffs within their first three seasons of existence.The record stood until being eclipsed in 1996 by both the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars, who each made the playoffs in their second seasons. The team is one of only four teams since the 1970 merger to start the season 1–5 or worse and qualify for the playoffs, the others being the 2015 Kansas City Chiefs, the 2018 Indianapolis Colts, and the 2020 Washington Football Team.

Offseason

NFL draft

Personnel

Staff / Coaches

Final roster

Regular season

The Bengals set a league record for most points in a game scored by the special teams, with 31 in a 43–14 victory at Buffalo on November 8, 1970. Cornerback Lemar Parrish scored two special teams touchdowns: one on a 95-yard kickoff return, and another on an 83-yard return of a blocked field goal attempt. Parrish is the only Bengals player ever to score two touchdowns in a game on returns and/or recoveries — and he did it three times. Kicker Horst Muhlmann added 15 points on five field goals, and four extra points by Muhlmann completed the special teams onslaught. The offense scored only one touchdown, a one-yard run by running back Jess Phillips. The defense scored a touchdown on an eight-yard fumble return by defensive end Royce Berry.

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 20 Oakland Raiders W 31–21 1–0 Riverfront Stadium Recap 2 September 27 at Detroit Lions L 3–38 1–1 Tiger Stadium Recap 3 October 4 Houston Oilers L 13–20 1–2 Riverfront Stadium Recap 4 October 11 at Cleveland Browns L 27–30 1–3 Cleveland Stadium Recap 5 October 18 Kansas City Chiefs L 19–27 1–4 Riverfront Stadium Recap 6 October 25 at Washington Redskins L 0–20 1–5 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Recap 7 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–21 1–6 Three Rivers Stadium Recap 8 November 8 at Buffalo Bills W 43–14 2–6 War Memorial Stadium Recap 9 November 15 Cleveland Browns W 14–10 3–6 Riverfront Stadium Recap 10 November 22 Pittsburgh SteelersW 34–7 4–6 Riverfront Stadium Recap 11 November 29 New Orleans Saints W 26–6 5–6 Riverfront Stadium Recap 12 December 6 at San Diego Chargers W 17–14 6–6 San Diego Stadium Recap 13 December 13 at Houston Oilers W 30–20 7–6 Astrodome Recap 14 December 20 Boston Patriots W 45–7 8–6 Riverfront Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p. 296

Season summary

Week 1 vs Raiders

Team stats 1970 Cincinnati Bengals Team Stats TEAM STATS Bengals Opponents TOTAL FIRST DOWNS 210 236 Rushing 100 87 Passing 97 131 Penalty 13 18 TOTAL NET YARDS 3927 4178 Avg Per Game 280.5 298.4 Total Plays 831 874 Avg. Per Play 4.7 4.8 NET YARDS RUSHING 2057 1543 Avg. Per Game 146.9 110.2 Total Rushes 461 418 NET YARDS PASSING 1870 2635 Avg. Per Game 133.6 188.2 Sacked Yards Lost 31–227 28–250 Gross Yards 2097 2885 Att. Completions 339–172 428–209 Completion Pct. 50.7 48.8 Intercepted 11 23 PUNTS-AVERAGE 79–46.2 80–43.8 PENALTIES-YARDS 71–831 81–784FUMBLES-BALL LOST 22–12 28–16 TOUCHDOWNS 34 31 Rushing 16 11 Passing 12 18 Returns 6 2

Score by Periods 1 2 3 4 Tot Bengals 56 111 85 60 312 Opponents 49 82 52 72 255

Team leaders Passing: Virgil Carter (278 Att, 143 Comp, 1647 Yds, 51.4 Pct, 9 TD, 9 Int, 66.9 Rating) Rushing: Jess Phillips (163 Att, 648 Yds, 4.0 Avg, 76 Long, 4 TD) Receiving: Chip Myers (32 Rec, 542 Yds, 16.9 Avg, 56 Long, 1 TD) Scoring: Horst Muhlmann, 108 points (25 FG; 33 PAT)

Playoffs Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap Divisional December 26 at Baltimore ColtsL 0–17 0–1 Memorial Stadium Recap

Awards and records

Pro Bowl selections CB Lemar Parrish TE Bob Trumpy

References

External links 1970 Cincinnati Bengals at Pro-Football-Reference.com