The 2020 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 51st in the National Football League (NFL), their 53rd overall, and their second under head coach Zac Taylor.
For the first time since 2003, the Bengals had the first overall pick in the NFL draft, which they used to select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. They improved upon their 2–14 record from 2019 but were eliminated from playoff contention for the 5th consecutive year after a week 13 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Bengals doubled their win total from the previous season but still finished with a 4–11–1 record. As well, this was the first season since 2010 that the Bengals did not have Andy Dalton as their starting quarterback, as he was released and signed with the Dallas Cowboys. This was their most recent season with a losing record prior to 2025.
Offseason
Free agents
Unrestricted
Position Player 2020 Team Date signed Contract DT Andrew Billings Cleveland Browns March 19 1 year, $3.5 million TE Tyler Eifert Jacksonville Jaguars March 24 2 years, $15.5 million S Clayton Fejedelem Miami Dolphins March 16 3 years, $8.55 million WR A. J. Green Cincinnati Bengals March 16 Franchise tagged for 1 year, $17.865 million G John Jerry CB Greg Mabin Cincinnati Bengals March 31 1 year, $825k CB Tony McRae Detroit Lions March 21 1 year, $1.5 million CB Torry McTyer Cincinnati Bengals March 21 1 year, $875k MLB Hardy Nickerson Minnesota Vikings August 18 1 year, $750k ILB LaRoy Reynolds Atlanta Falcons March 24 1 year, $1.05 million DT Niles Scott OLB Nick Vigil Los Angeles Chargers March 24 1 year, $1.1875 million DE Kerry Wynn CB Darqueze Dennard Atlanta Falcons August 3 1 year, $4.5 million
Restricted
Position Player 2020 Team Date signed Contract G Alex Redmond Cincinnati Bengals March 23 1 year, $2.133 million TE Cethan Carter Cincinnati Bengals April 17 1 year, $2.133 million S Brandon Wilson Cincinnati Bengals April 26 1 year, $2.133 million DT Josh Tupou Cincinnati Bengals May 1 1 year, $2.133 million
Signings Position Player 2019 team Date signed Contract NT D. J. Reader Houston TexansMarch 17 4 years, $53 million CB Trae Waynes Minnesota Vikings 3 years, $42 million CB Mackensie Alexander Minnesota Vikings March 18 1 year, $4 million G Xavier Su'a-Filo Dallas Cowboys March 18 3 years, $9 million LB Josh Bynes Baltimore Ravens March 24 1 year, $1.6 million WR Mike Thomas Los Angeles Rams March 24 1 year, $850k S Vonn Bell New Orleans Saints March 25 3 years, $18 million CB LeShaun Sims Tennessee Titans March 25 1 year, $1.7 million RB Jacques Patrick Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL) April 17 3 years, $2.285 million
Releases Position Player 2020 team Date releasedOTCordy Glenn March 13 G John Miller Carolina Panthers March 18 CB B. W. Webb March 18 CB Dre Kirkpatrick Arizona Cardinals March 31 QB Andy Dalton Dallas Cowboys April 30 RB Devwah Whaley August 3 TE Moritz Böhringer August 3
Draft
Undrafted free agents +PlayerPositionCollegeSigned Kendall Futrell LB East CarolinaApril 25 Josh Knipfel G Iowa State Scotty Washington WR Wake Forest Devwah Whaley RB Arkansas Isaiah Swann CB Dartmouth Clay Cordasco OT Oregon State Marcel Spears Jr. LB Iowa State Tyler Clark DT GeorgiaApril 26 Mitch Wilcox TE South Florida Trey Dishon DT Kansas State April 27
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Bengals' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Week Date Opponent Venue Result 1 at Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2 Minnesota Vikings Paul Brown Stadium 3 at Atlanta Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium 4 Indianapolis Colts Paul Brown Stadium
Regular season
Schedule The Bengals' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 13 Los Angeles Chargers L 13–16 0–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 2 at Cleveland Browns L 30–35 0–2 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 3 September 27 at Philadelphia Eagles T 23–23 0–2–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 4 October 4 Jacksonville Jaguars W 33–25 1–2–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 5 October 11 at Baltimore Ravens L 3–27 1–3–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 6 October 18 at Indianapolis Colts L 27–31 1–4–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 7 October 25 Cleveland Browns L 34–37 1–5–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 8 November 1 Tennessee Titans W 31–20 2–5–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 9Bye 10 November 15 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–36 2–6–1 Heinz Field Recap 11 November 22 at Washington Football Team L 9–20 2–7–1 FedExField Recap 12 November 29 New York Giants L 17–19 2–8–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 13 December 6 at Miami Dolphins L 7–19 2–9–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 14 December 13 Dallas Cowboys L 7–30 2–10–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 15 Pittsburgh Steelers W 27–17 3–10–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 16 December 27 at Houston Texans W 37–31 4–10–1 NRG Stadium Recap 17 January 3 Baltimore Ravens L 3–38 4–11–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Bengals began their season at home against the Chargers in what would be the debut pro game for new starting QB and first round draft pick Joe Burrow. In the first quarter, the Bengals scored its only points when Burrow ran for a 23-yard TD to make it 7–0. The Chargers tacked on a pair of field goals in the second quarter to make it 7-6 when Michael Badgley made them from 24 and 43 yards out for a 1-point deficit at halftime. The Bengals then scored a pair of field goals of their own in the third quarter, when Randy Bullock made 50 and 43 yarders for a TD lead of 13–6. However, in the fourth, the Chargers took the lead as Joshua Kelley ran for a 5-yard TD, followed up by Badgley kicking a 22-yard field goal to make it 16–13. The Bengals got the ball back and were able to drive deep into Chargers' territory. After a what appeared to be a TD pass from Burrow to Green was overturned due to an offensive penalty, the Bengals then brought out Bullock for the game-tying field goal to send the game into overtime. Bullock missed the field goal wide right, losing the game for the Bengals.
With the loss, the Bengals started 0–1.
Week 2: at Cleveland Browns
After losing their regular season-opening game at home, the Bengals then traveled to Cleveland to face the Browns for Battle of Ohio Round 1. In the first quarter, the Bengals scored first when Randy Bullock kicked a 38-yard field goal to make it 3–0. Though, the Browns took the lead when Nick Chubb ran for an 11-yard TD to make it 7–3. In the second quarter, the Browns went up by double digits when Baker Mayfield found O'dell Beckham Jr. on a 43-yard TD pass to make it 14–3. The Bengals then came within 4 after Joe Burrow found C.J. Uzomah on a 23-yard TD pass to make it 14–10. Mayfield then found Kareem Hunt on a 6-yard TD pass to put the Browns up by double digits, 21–10. Though, the Bengals closed out the half when Randy Bullock kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 21–13 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Browns went back up by double digits when Chubb ran for a 1-yard TD to make it 28–13. The Bengals drew closer with Bullock's 27-yard field goal to make it 28–16. In the fourth quarter, the Bengals were able to get within 5 when Burrow found Mike Thomas on a 4-yard TD pass to make the score 28–23. Though, the Browns would go back up by double digits yet again when Hunt punched the ball in for a 1-yard TD to make it 35–23. The Bengals wrapped up the scoring when Burrow found Tyler Boyd on a 9-yard TD pass to make the final score 35–30.
With the loss, the Bengals fell to 0–2 for the second straight season and last place in the AFC North.
Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles
The Bengals traveled to Philadelphia seeking their first win of the season. After a scoreless first quarter, the Bengals and Eagles traded field goals to start the second. Cincinnati took its first lead of the game when Joe Burrow found Tee Higgins for a 1-yard touchdown, but the Eagles responded with a touchdown of their own to take a 13–10 lead at halftime. The Eagles padded their lead to 16–10 early in the third on a Jake Elliott field goal, but Higgins' second touchdown reception of the afternoon put the Bengals back in front, 17–16. Cincinnati built its lead to seven points with two Randy Bullock field goals in the fourth quarter, but a last-minute touchdown run by Carson Wentz would tie the game and force overtime. In overtime, the two defenses would hold strong, with neither team being able to get in scoring range until the Eagles got to the Bengals' 41 late in the extra period. However, a false start on fourth down would move Philadelphia out of field goal range, and they punted with only a few seconds left. With no time to get back into scoring range or score a winning touchdown, the Bengals could only run one play to their own 20 yard line before time expired.
With their fourth tie in 13 seasons and their second in their past four meetings against the Eagles, the Bengals improved to 0–2–1 and remained in last place in the AFC North. The Bengals also ended a 14-game road losing streak dating back to 2018.
Week 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
QB Joe Burrow earned his first win as an NFL starter, throwing for 300 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. RB Joe Mixon turned in a huge performance with 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns as well as a receiving touchdown.
Week 5: at Baltimore Ravens
The Bengals then traveled to Baltimore for Round 1 against the Ravens. After trailing 27–0, the Bengals wrapped up the scoring in the fourth quarter with Randy Bullock's 38-yard field goal to make the final score 27–3.
With their fourth straight loss to the Ravens, the Bengals fell to 1–3–1.
Week 6: at Indianapolis Colts
After a huge loss, the Bengals traveled again to take on the Colts. From the first into the second quarter, the Bengals jumped out to a 21–0 lead when Giovani Bernard ran for a 2-yard touchdown, followed by Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon running for 2-yard and 7-yard touchdowns respectively. Trey Burton scored a 1-yard touchdown of his own to get the Colts on the board 21–7. The Bengals' lead increased with Randy Bullock's 47-yard field goal to make it 24–7. The Colts scored twice to come within 3 before halftime when Burton ran for a 10-yard touchdown, followed by Philip Rivers finding Zach Pascal on a 17-yard touchdown pass to make it 24–21. In the third quarter, the Bengals increased their lead when Bullock kicked a 55-yard field goal to make it 27-21 and the quarter's only score. In the fourth quarter, however, it was all Colts when Rivers found Jack Doyle on a 14-yard touchdown pass, taking the lead at 28–27. Rodrigo Blankenship then kicked a 40-yard field goal to make it 31–27. With seconds left, the Bengals got the ball back. However, Burrow would throw the game-losing interception, sealing yet another loss.
With the loss, the Bengals fell to 1–4–1.
Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns