The 1998 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 31st in professional football and their 29th in the National Football League (NFL). The Bengals finished with a 3–13 record for the fourth time in the 1990s, as new free agent quarterback Neil O'Donnell was sacked 30 times. Despite the poor showing by the offensive line, running back Corey Dillon established himself as one of the NFL's premier running backs, as he rushed for 1,120 yards. The only bright spot for the Bengals in 1998 was when they swept division rival Pittsburgh. This was the Bengals only sweep of the Steelers during the "Bungles" years.
Offseason
NFL draft
The Bengals drafted nine players in 1998.
Undrafted free agents
+ 1998 undrafted free agents of note PlayerPositionCollegeAlonzo ClaytonWide receiverNorthern IowaBrad CostelloPunterBoston UniversityMike DoughtyTackleNotre DameDamon GibsonWide receiverIowaDaryle HeidelburgWide receiverJackson StateJeff LeonardDefensive endWyomingDerrick LeVakeTackleWisconsin–WhitewaterAdrian LusterDefensive TackleThe CitadelRic MathiasCornerbackWisconsin–La CrosseJason MooreSafetySan Diego StateKevin MooreSafetyMorgan StateBuddy RodgersFullbackMarylandAdrian RossLinebackerColorado StateErik StorzLinebackerBoston College
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Regular season
Schedule WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance 1 September 6 Tennessee Oilers L 14–23 0–1 Cinergy Field 55,848 2 September 13 at Detroit Lions W 34–28 (OT) 1–1 Pontiac Silverdome 66,354 3 September 20 Green Bay Packers L 6–13 1–2 Cinergy Field 56,346 4 September 27 at Baltimore Ravens L 24–31 1–3 Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards 68,154 5 Bye 6 October 11 Pittsburgh Steelers W 25–20 2–3 Cinergy Field 59,979 7 October 18 at Tennessee Oilers L 14–44 2–4 Vanderbilt Stadium 33,288 8 October 25 at Oakland Raiders L 10–27 2–5 Network Associates Coliseum 40,089 9 November 1 Denver Broncos L 26–33 2–6 Cinergy Field 59,974 10 November 8 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 11–24 2–7 Alltel Stadium 67,040 11 November 15 at Minnesota Vikings L 3–24 2–8 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,232 12 November 22 Baltimore Ravens L 13–20 2–9 Cinergy Field 52,571 13 November 29 Jacksonville Jaguars L 17–34 2–10 Cinergy Field 55,432 14 December 6 Buffalo Bills L 20–33 2–11 Cinergy Field 54,359 15 December 13 at Indianapolis Colts L 26–39 2–12 RCA Dome 55,179 16 December 20 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 25–24 3–12 Three Rivers Stadium 52,017 17 December 27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 0–35 3–13 Cinergy Field 49,826 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Team leaders
Passing Player Att Comp Yds TD INT Rating Neil O'Donnell 343 212 2216 15 4 90.2
Rushing Player Att Yds YPC Long TD Corey Dillon 262 1130 4.3 66 4
Receiving Player Rec Yds Avg Long TD Carl Pickens 82 1023 12.5 67 5 Darnay Scott 51 817 16.0 70 7
Defensive Player Tackles Sacks INTs FF FR Takeo Spikes 112 2.0 0 0 0 Reinard Wilson 63 6.0 0 2 0 Sam Shade 78 1.0 3 0 2 Artrell Hawkins 70 1.0 3 2 1
Kicking and punting Player FGA FGM FG% XPA XPM XP% Points Doug Pelfrey 27 19 70.4% 21 21 100.0% 78 Player Punts Yards Long Blkd Avg. Lee Johnson 69 3083 69 1 44.7
Special teams Player KR KRYards KRAvg KRLong KRTD PR PRYards PRAvg PRLong PRTD Tremain Mack 45 1165 25.9 97 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 Damon Gibson 17 372 21.9 30 0 27 218 8.1 65 1
Awards and records Carl Pickens, franchise record, most receptions in one game, 13 (achieved on October 11, 1998)
Milestones Corey Dillon, 2nd 1,000-yard rushing season (1,130 rushing yards) Carl Pickens, 4th 1,000-yard receiving season (1,023 receiving yards) Chad Cornelius, led NFL in punt average in the preseason before tearing the ACL/MCL on his kicking leg. Was the first punter to down his own punt.
References
External links
1998 Cincinnati Bengals at Pro-Football-Reference.com