1968 Cincinnati Bengals season

1968 Cincinnati Bengals season
Head coach Paul Brown
Home field Nippert Stadium
Results
Record 3–11
Division place 5th AFL West
Playoff finish did not qualify
AFL All-Stars
Team ROY Paul Robinson

The 1968 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's first year in professional football. 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, had the urge to get back into football. His son Mike Brown did a study on pro football expansion and recommended Cincinnati as a potential site. In 1965, Brown met with Ohio Governor James Rhodes and the two agreed the state could accommodate a second pro football team.

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.

1968 – The Bengals were awarded 40 veteran players in the allocation draft. In the college draft, they selected University of Tennessee center Bob Johnson as their first pick. The Bengals lost their first preseason game 38–14 to the Kansas City Chiefs before 21,682 fans at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium. The Bengals upset the Denver Broncos 24–10 and the Buffalo Bills 34–23 in their first two regular-season home games. Halfback Paul Robinson led the AFL in rushing with 1,023 yards and was named Rookie of the Year.

Offseason

Common draft

1968 Cincinnati Bengals draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 2 Bob Johnson *  Center Tennessee
2 28 Bill Staley  Defensive end Utah State
2 55 Tom Smiley  Running back Lamar
3 56 Gary Davis  Quarterback Vanderbilt
3 82 Paul Robinson *  Running back Arizona
3 83 Dale Livingston  Placekicker Western Michigan
4 84 Jess Phillips  Defensive back Michigan State
4 109 Warren McVea  Running back Houston
5 112 Dave Middendorf  Guard Washington State
5 138 Al Beauchamp  Linebacker Southern
6 139 Howard Fest  Offensive tackle Texas
6 143 Bill Kindricks  Defensive tackle Alabama A&M
6 145 John Neidert  Linebacker Louisville
6 155 Dewey Warren  Quarterback Tennessee
6 156 Essex Johnson  Defensive back Grambling State
6 158 Elmo Maple  Wide receiver Southern
6 160 Sidney Ellis  Defensive back Jackson State
6 163 Charles Williams  Running back Arkansas–Pine Bluff
6 165 Jim Johnson  Defensive back South Carolina State
7 166 Steve Smith  Tight end Miami (FL)
7 192 Wes Bean  Linebacker Grambling State
8 193 Harry Gunner  Linebacker Oregon State
8 219 Ed Brantley  Offensive tackle North Texas
9 220 Phil Johnson  Defensive back Long Beach State
9 246 Steve Hanrahan  Defensive tackle Weber State
10 247 Wayne Patrick  Running back Louisville
10 273 James Russell  Wide receiver North Texas
11 274 Wally Scott  Defensive back Arizona
11 300 Jeff Banks  Linebacker Pacific
12 301 Bob Trumpy *  Tight end Utah
12 327 Harold Jones  Offensive tackle Grambling State
13 328 James Bivins  Linebacker Texas Southern
13 354 Teddy Washington  Running back San Diego State
14 355 Les Webster  Running back Iowa State
14 381 Steve Lewicke  Wide receiver UTEP
15 382 Harvey Palmore  Guard Morgan State
15 408 Joe Mira  Wide receiver Miami (FL)
16 409 James Williams  Defensive back Alcorn State
16 435 Brown Marks  Linebacker Indiana (PA)
17 436 Don Manning  Linebacker UCLA
17 462 Jimmy Smith  Tight end Jackson State
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[1]

Pre-season

1968 Cincinnati Bengals Pre-Season Schedule[2]
WeekDateOpponentResultVenueAttendanceRecord
1 August 3, 1968vs. Kansas City Chiefs38–14 LNippert Stadium21,6820–1
2 August 10, 1968at Denver Broncos15–13 LDenver University Stadium13,8410–2
3 August 17, 1968vs. Buffalo Bills10–6 LNippert Stadium20,1110–3
4 August 25, 1968Pittsburgh Steelers19–3 WOld Mountaineer Field11,5001–3
5 August 30, 1968New York Jets13–9 WMemphis Memorial Stadium24,3582–3

Regular season

Schedule

1968 Cincinnati Bengals Regular Season Schedule[3][4]
WeekDateOpponentResultVenueAttendanceRecord
1 September 6, 1968at San Diego Chargers29–13 LSan Diego Stadium33,6870–1
2 September 15, 1968vs. Denver Broncos24–10 WNippert Stadium25,0491–1
3 September 22, 1968vs. Buffalo Bills34–23 WNippert Stadium24,0452–1
4 September 29, 1968vs. San Diego Chargers31–10 LNippert Stadium28,6422–2
5 October 6, 1968at Denver Broncos10–7 LMile High Stadium41,2572–3
6 October 13, 1968at Kansas City Chiefs13–3 LMunicipal Stadium47,0962–4
7 October 20, 1968vs. Miami Dolphins24–22 LNippert Stadium25,9422–5
8 October 27, 1968at Oakland Raiders31–10 LOakland Coliseum37,0832–6
9 November 3, 1968vs. Houston Oilers27–17 LNippert Stadium24,0122–7
10 November 10, 1968vs. Kansas City Chiefs16–9 LNippert Stadium25,5372–8
11 November 17, 1968at Miami Dolphins38–21 WMiami Orange Bowl31,7473–8
12 November 24, 1968vs. Oakland Raiders34–0 LNippert Stadium27,1163–9
13 December 1, 1968at Boston Patriots33–14 LFenway Park17,7963–10
14 December 8, 1968at New York Jets27–14 LShea Stadium61,1113–11

Standings

AFL Western Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Oakland Raiders 1220.8576–2453233W8
Kansas City Chiefs 1220.8577–1371170W5
San Diego Chargers 950.6435–3382310L2
Denver Broncos 590.3571–7275404L3
Cincinnati Bengals 3110.2141–7215329L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Game summaries

Week 1

  • Friday September 6, 1968
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:
CINSDG
CINPaul Robinson 2-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)70
SDGDennis Partee 42-yard field goal73
SDGDickie Post 48-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)710
CINDale Livingston 22-yard field goal1010
SDGBrad Hubbert 1-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)1017
CINDale Livingston 35-yard field goal1317
SDGWillie Frazier 48-yard pass from John Hadl (kick failed)1323
SDGWillie Frazier 56-yard pass from John Hadl (kick failed)1329
CINSDG
First downs1327
Rush-yards-TDs30–122–133–229–2
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT14–26–125–0–120–37–325–2–0
Sacked-yards2–210–0
Net pass yards104325
Total yards226554
Fumbles-lost4–12–2
Turnovers22
Penalties-yards5–5610–100

Week 2

  • Sunday September 15
Week 2
1234Final
Denver Broncos (0–1–0)003710
Cincinnati Bengals (1–1–0)00101424
DENCIN
CINDale Livingston 49-yard field goal03
CINBob Trumpy 58-yard pass from John Stofa (Dale Livingston kick)010
DENBob Humphreys 33-yard field goal310
DENEric Crabtree 5-yard pass from Jim M. LeClair (Bob Humphreys kick)1010
CINWarren McVea 54-yard pass from John Stofa (Dale Livingston kick)1017
CINEssex Johnson 35-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)1024
DENCIN
First downs1511
Rush-yards-TDs25–78–027–104–1
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT14–33–171–1–112–22–224–2–0
Sacked-yards4–503–39
Net pass yards121185
Total yards199289
Fumbles-lost2–01–0
Turnovers10
Penalties-yards2–152–24

Week 3

  • Sunday September 22
Week 3
1234Final
Buffalo Bills (0–3–0)077923
Cincinnati Bengals (2–1–0)100101434
BUFCIN
CIN Dale Livingston 11-yard field goal03
CIN Warren McVea 80-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)010
BUF Max Anderson 14-yard rush (Mike Mercer kick)710
BUF Gary McDermott 5-yard rush (Mike Mercer kick)1410
CIN Dale Livingston 39-yard field goal1413
CIN Charlie King 32-yard interception return (Dale Livingston kick)1420
CIN Al Beauchamp 17-yard interception return (Dale Livingston kick)1427
BUF Max Anderson 100-yard kickoff return (Mike Mercer kick)2127
BUF Safety, Robinson tackled in end zone2327
CIN Tommie Smiley 1-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)2334
BUFCIN
First downs179
Rush-yards-TDs24–92–229–149–2
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT15–36–160–0–28–18–68–0–1
Sacked-yards5–372–16
Net pass yards12352
Total yards215201
Fumbles-lost1–02–1
Turnovers22
Penalties-yards5–656–34

Week 4

Sunday September 29

Week 4
1234Final
San Diego Chargers (3–0–0)01701431
Cincinnati Bengals (2–2–0)307010
SDGCIN
CIN Dale Livingston 21-yard field goal03
SDG Gary Garrison 10-yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick)73
SDG Dennis Partee 21-yard field goal103
SDG Gary Garrison 19-yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick)173
CIN Essex Johnson 6-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)1710
SDG John Hadl 2-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)2410
SDG John Hadl 1-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick)3110
SDGCIN
First downs1814
Rush-yards-TDs37–101–225–66–1
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT11–24–215–2–117–29–153–0–2
Sacked-yards1–143–24
Net pass yards201129
Total yards302195
Fumbles-lost0–00–0
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards6–518–90

Week 5

Sunday October 6

Week 5
1234Final
Cincinnati Bengals (2–3–0)07007
Denver Broncos (1–3–0)003710
CINDEN
CIN Bobby Hunt 5-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)70
DEN Bobby Howfield 34-yard field goal73
DEN Mike Haffner 4-yard pass from Steve Tensi (Bobby Howfield kick)710
CINDEN
First downs1511
Rush-yards-TDs37–111–123–99–0
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT15–38–139–0–014–34–125–1–0
Sacked-yards1–32–13
Net pass yards136112
Total yards247211
Fumbles-lost3–11–0
Turnovers10
Penalties-yards5–493–28

Week 6

Sunday October 13

Week 6
1234Final
Cincinnati Bengals (2–4–0)00303
Kansas City Chiefs (5–1–0)033713
CINKAN
KAN Jan Stenerud 52-yard field goal03
CIN Dale Livingston 15-yard field goal33
KAN Jan Stenerud 46-yard field goal36
KAN Robert Holmes 1-yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick)313
CINKAN
First downs715
Rush-yards-TDs28–99–040–136–1
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT7–19–48–0–111–17–152–0–1
Sacked-yards3–313–23
Net pass yards17129
Total yards116265
Fumbles-lost1–02–1
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards3–255–42

Week 7

Sunday October 20

Week 7
1234Final
Miami Dolphins (2–3–1)10001424
Cincinnati Bengals (2–5–0)0214622
MIACIN
MIA Jimmy Keyes 26-yard field goal30
MIA Karl Noonan 2-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick)100
CIN Safety, Gunner tackled Griese in end zone102
CIN Essex Johnson 41-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)109
CIN Paul Robinson 1-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)1016
MIA Karl Noonan 20-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick)1716
MIA Stan Mitchell 31-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick)2416
CIN Bob Trumpy 45-yard pass from Dewey Warren (pass failed)2422
MIACIN
First downs2114
Rush-yards-TDs38–139–030–143–2
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT16–29–186–3–014–21–184–1–1
Sacked-yards4–290–0
Net pass yards157184
Total yards296327
Fumbles-lost1–03–2
Turnovers03
Penalties-yards2–112–10

Week 8

Sunday October 28

Week 8
1234Final
Cincinnati Bengals (2–6–0)073010
Oakland Raiders (5–2–0)7714331
CINOAK
OAK Fred Biletnikoff 14-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick)07
OAK Roger Hagberg 7-yard rush (George Blanda kick)014
CIN Paul Robinson 87-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)714
OAK Fred Biletnikoff 12-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick)721
CIN Dale Livingston 37-yard field goal1021
OAK Roger Hagberg 7-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick)1028
OAK George Blanda 48-yard field goal1031
CINOAK
First downs826
Rush-yards-TDs28–169–142–265–1
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT11–19–95–0–117–34–205–3–1
Sacked-yards7–364–31
Net pass yards59174
Total yards228439
Fumbles-lost3–12–2
Turnovers23
Penalties-yards6–905–78

Week 9

Sunday November 3

Week 9
1234Final
Houston Oilers (4–5–0)1077327
Cincinnati Bengals (2–7–0)037717
HOUCIN
HOU Wayne Walker 27-yard field goal30
HOU Alvin Reed 5-yard pass from Don Trull (Wayne Walker kick)100
CIN Dale Livingston 28-yard field goal103
HOU Hoyle Granger 1-yard rush (Wayne Walker kick)173
CIN Paul Robinson 4-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)1710
HOU Mac Haik 10-yard pass from Don Trull (Wayne Walker kick)2410
HOU Wayne Walker 41-yard field goal2710
CIN Paul Robinson 68-yard pass from Sam Wyche (Dale Livingston kick)2717
HOUCIN
First downs2121
Rush-yards-TDs37–159–126–179–1
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT14–23–212–2–020–25–228–1–0
Sacked-yards1–105–33
Net pass yards202195
Total yards361374
Fumbles-lost1–01–0
Turnovers00
Penalties-yards3–354–45

Week 10

Sunday November 10

Week 10
1234Final
Kansas City Chiefs (8–2–0)3301016
Cincinnati Bengals (2–8–0)03609
KANCIN
KAN Jan Stenerud 30-yard field goal30
CIN Dale Livingston 29-yard field goal33
KAN Jan Stenerud 11-yard field goal63
CIN Dale Livingston 16-yard field goal66
CIN Dale Livingston 23-yard field goal69
KAN Jan Stenerud 17-yard field goal99
KAN Robert Holmes 27-yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick)169
KANCIN
First downs1615
Rush-yards-TDs39–255–130–157–0
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT5–15–62–0–112–21–161–0–2
Sacked-yards1–136–35
Net pass yards49126
Total yards304283
Fumbles-lost0–00–0
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards4–453–44

Week 11

Sunday, November 17

Week 11
1234Final
Cincinnati Bengals (3–8–0)01702138
Miami Dolphins (3–6–1)7014021
CINMIA
MIA Stan Mitchell 48-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick)07
CIN Bob Trumpy 80-yard pass from Sam Wyche (Dale Livingston kick)77
CIN Dale Livingston 12-yard field goal107
CIN Paul Robinson 54-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)177
MIA Karl Noonan 7-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick)1714
MIA Stan Mitchell 38-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick)1721
CIN Warren McVea 55-yard pass from John Stofa (Dale Livingston kick)2421
CIN Paul Robinson 15-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)3121
CIN Paul Robinson 5-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick)3821
CINMIA
First downs1716
Rush-yards-TDs38–179–323–122–0
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT9–17–243–2–016–31–253–3–1
Sacked-yards0–06–49
Net pass yards243204
Total yards422326
Fumbles-lost2–13–1
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards2–313–22

Week 12

Sunday November 24

Week 12
1234Final
Oakland Raiders (9–2–0)7761434
Cincinnati Bengals (3–9–0)00000
OAKCIN
OAK Charlie H. Smith 7-yard rush (George Blanda kick)70
OAK Hewritt Dixon 5-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick)140
OAK George Blanda 43-yard field goal170
OAK George Blanda 27-yard field goal200
OAK Charlie H. Smith 9-yard rush (George Blanda kick)270
OAK Billy Cannon 12-yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick)340
OAKCIN
First downs337
Rush-yards-TDs46–208–225–116–0
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT26–34–396–2–07–14–44–0–1
Sacked-yards0–02–12
Net pass yards39632
Total yards604148
Fumbles-lost2–12–2
Turnovers13
Penalties-yards9–925–52

Week 13

Sunday December 1

Week 13
1234Final
Cincinnati Bengals (3–10–0)007714
Boston Patriots (4–8–0)2240733
CINBOS
BOS Safety, Satcher tackled Robinson in end zone02
BOS Gino Cappelletti 27-yard field goal05
BOS Jim Whalen 11-yard pass from Tom Sherman (Gino Cappelletti kick)012
BOS Gino Cappelletti 18-yard pass from Tom Sherman (Gino Cappelletti kick)019
BOS Jim Nance 5-yard rush (Gino Cappelletti kick)026
CIN Estes Banks 5-yard pass from John Stofa (Rod Sherman kick)726
BOS Jim Whalen 21-yard pass from Tom Sherman (Gino Cappelletti kick)733
CIN Rod Sherman 27-yard pass from John Stofa (Rod Sherman kick)1433
CINBOS
First downs1420
Rush-yards-TDs30–106–037–129–1
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT18–37–126–2–112–25–142–3–1
Sacked-yards2–200–0
Net pass yards106142
Total yards212271
Fumbles-lost2–01–1
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards3–352–19

Week 14

Sunday December 8

Week 14
1234Final
Cincinnati Bengals (3–11–0)070714
New York Jets (10–3–0)1433727
CINNYJ
NYJ George Sauer 10-yard pass from Joe Namath (Jim Turner kick)07
NYJ Don Maynard 12-yard pass from Joe Namath (Jim Turner kick)014
CIN Paul Robinson 14-yard rush (Rod Sherman kick)714
NYJ Jim Turner 35-yard field goal717
NYJ Jim Turner 22-yard field goal720
CIN Jim Griffin 0-yard fumble return (Rod Sherman kick)1420
NYJ Bake Turner 34-yard pass from Babe Parilli (Jim Turner kick)1427
CINNYJ
First downs619
Rush-yards-TDs38–107–129–85–0
Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT3–7–58–0–021–39–299–3–1
Sacked-yards1–71–13
Net pass yards51286
Total yards158371
Fumbles-lost3–11–1
Turnovers12
Penalties-yards1–53–29

Final roster

1968 Cincinnati Bengals final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists



Practice squad



Rookies in italics
 56 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 Practice squad

Awards and records

AFL Rookie of the Year

AFL Pro Bowl Selections

Highlights

Paul Brown, founder of the Cincinnati Bengals, was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.

Paul Robinson led the AFL in rushing with 1023 yards and was named Rookie of the Year.

References

  1. ↑ "1968 Cincinnati Bengals draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ "1968 Cincinnati Bengals". The Pro Football Archives. Maher Sports Media. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  3. ↑ "1968 Final Statistics (3–11–0)" (PDF). Cincinnati Bengals. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Cincinnati Bengals History: 1968". Cincinnati Bengals. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
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