The 2022 season is the Cincinnati Bengals' 53rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 55th overall and their fourth under head coachZac Taylor. The Bengals will look to make the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history, after making it to Super Bowl LVI the previous season. After a slow 0-2 start, the Bengals started to rally, winning 12 out of their last 14 games to improve upon their 10–7 record from the previous season, and matching their franchise best 12-4 record. After the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the New York Jets in Week 16, the Bengals clinched a playoff berth, their second straight season making the playoffs. The Bengals later improved upon their 10–7 record from the previous season after a Week 16 win over the New England Patriots. With the Week 17 game against Buffalo declared a no-contest on January 5, the Bengals clinched the AFC North title for the second straight year. With a Week 18 win against Baltimore, they clinched home field advantage for the Wild Card Round.
Shortly before the beginning of the preseason, the Bengals renamed their stadium Paycor Stadium. The stadium had been named after the team's founder and first head coach, Paul Brown since it opened in 2000.[1]
^ abcThe Bengals traded second- and sixth-round selections (63rd and 209th overall) to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a second-round selection (60th overall).
^ abcThe Bengals traded fifth- and seventh-round selections (174th and 226th overall) to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fifth-round selection (166th overall).
The Bengals started the 2022 season against their division rival Steelers in Cincinnati. The Steelers scored first in the first quarter when Minkah Fitzpatrick returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown to make it 7–0. The Bengals made it 7–3 when Evan McPherson made a 59-yard field goal which was the longest in franchise history. The Steelers then went ahead 10–3 after Chris Boswell kicked a 20-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Steelers moved ahead 17–3 after Mitchell Trubisky found Najee Harris on a 1-yard touchdown pass. The Bengals drew closer at halftime when McPherson made a 26-yard field goal to make it 17–6. After the break, the Bengals came within 3 in the third quarter when Joe Burrow found Tyler Boyd on a 2-yard touchdown pass (with a successful 2-point conversion) to make it 17–14. In the fourth quarter, the Steelers moved ahead by 6 when Boswell kicked a 48-yard field goal to make it 20–14. Later on in the quarter, the Bengals tied the game when Burrow found Ja'Marr Chase on a 6-yard touchdown pass. (with a blocked PAT) to send the game into overtime tied at 20–20. After going back and forth on possessions, the Steelers managed to win the game when Boswell kicked the game winning 53-yard field goal with seconds left to make the final score 23–20.
With their 3-game winning streak against the Steelers snapped, the Bengals started the season 0–1. Wins by the Browns and Ravens would leave them at the bottom of the AFC North. Joe Burrow committed 5 turnovers throughout the course of the game (4 interceptions, 1 lost fumble).
Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 2: Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Despite a fourth quarter comeback, the Bengals allowed the Cowboys to claim the win by marching down the field in the dying seconds of the game. With the loss, Cincinnati dropped to 0–2. This marked the third 0–2 start in four seasons, as well as the first team since the 2015 Seattle Seahawks to start 0–2 after playing in the Super Bowl the year prior. This also marked the first 0–2 start by a defending AFC champion since the 1999 Denver Broncos started 0–4 after winning Super Bowl XXXIII.
Week 3: at New York Jets
Week 3: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets – Game summary
After a disappointing 0–2 start to the season, the Bengals bounced back with a win against the Jets. Trey Hendrickson had 2.5 sacks, including 2 forced fumbles, and Joe Burrow threw for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions, preventing an 0–3 start.
Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 4: Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
On Thursday Night Football, the Bengals defeated the Miami Dolphins 27–15. The Bengals had a quick start, getting a touchdown in the first possession of the game from Joe Mixon. The Bengals defense also held the Dolphins offense to 1 touchdown.
Week 5: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 5: Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
With 1:57 left on the clock and a 2 point deficit, Joe Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase for a 60 yard touchdown, essentially winning the game. With the win, the Bengals improved to 3–3 and returned to .500
Week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 7: Atlanta Falcons at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
In the 2022 Battle of Ohio Round 1, the Browns made it an 11–0 halftime lead, scoring all the first half points in the second quarter. After the third quarter, they had made it 25–0. The Bengals finally got on the board in the fourth quarter, making it 25–6 by way of Joe Burrow's 13-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd (with a failed PAT). Though, the Browns scored again, making it 32–6 with Nick Chubb's 11-yard touchdown run. Joe Burrow connected with Tee Higgins on a 41-yard touchdown pass for the final points of the game, making it 32–13.
The loss dropped the Bengals to 4–4. Joe Burrow's personal starting record against the Browns dropped to 0–4.
Week 9: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 9: Carolina Panthers at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
The Bengals jumped out to lead 35–0 at halftime before the Panthers finally got on the board in the third with Baker Mayfield's 8-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble, making it 35–7. The Bengals made it 42–7 by way of Joe Mixon's 14-yard touchdown run. The Panthers scored the remaining points in the fourth, making the final score 42–21.
The Bengals were able to go into their bye week 5–4, which was coincidentally the same record they had in the first 9 games on the previous season.
Week 11: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 11: Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Coming off of their bye week, the Bengals traveled for Round 2 against the Steelers. In the first quarter, the Bengals scored first when Evan McPherson kicked a 45-yard field goal to make it 3–0. The Steelers then tied it up when Matthew Wright kicked a 42-yard field goal to make it 3–3. The Bengals then moved back into the lead when Joe Burrow found Samaje Perine on a 29-yard touchdown pass to make it 10–3. In the second quarter, the Steelers tied the game up at 10–10 when Najee Harris ran for a 19-yard touchdown. The Bengals then moved into the lead again when Burrow and Perine connected on a 11-yard touchdown pass to make it 17–10. The Steelers were able to tie it up at 17–17 when Kenny Pickett found George Pickens on a 24-yard touchdown pass. They took the lead at halftime 20–17 when Wright kicked a 30-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Bengals retook the lead when Burrow found Adam Cole on a 1-yard touchdown pass to make it 24–20. The Steelers drew closer when Wright kicked a 34-yard field goal to make it 24–23. The Bengals then pulled away when McPherson kicked a 54-yard field goal to make it 27–23. In the fourth quarter, the Bengals scored a couple more times including a touchdown where Burrow and Perine connected for the third time on a 6-yard touchdown pass for a 34–23 lead and then McPherson kicked a 44-yard field goal to make it 37–23. The Steelers concluded the scoring of the game when Harris ran for a 1-yard touchdown. After a failed onside kick, the Bengals won with a final score of 37–30.
With the win, the Bengals improved to 6–4.
Week 12: at Tennessee Titans
Week 12: Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
After a close win, the Bengals traveled again to take on the Titans. The game was tied at 10–10 at halftime. In the third quarter, Evan McPherson kicked a 38-yard field goal to make it 13–10 Bengals before the Titans tied it up at 13–13 with Caleb Shudak's 24-yard field goal. The Bengals moved up 20–13 when Joe Burrow connected with Tee Higgins on a 27-yard touchdown pass. The Titans countered with another 38-yard field goal by Shudak. After getting stopped in the red zone, the Bengals kicked a field goal to make the score 23–16. However, a personal foul against the Titans took back the field goal and resulted into an automatic first down, ending the game and making the final score 20–16.
With the win, the Bengals improved to 7–4.
Week 13: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 13: Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
The Bengals then went home to take on the 9–2 Chiefs. After leading 14–10 at halftime, the Chiefs took a 17–14 lead in the third quarter by way of Isiah Pacheco's 8-yard touchdown run. The Bengals then tied it up at 17–17 when Evan McPherson kicked a 36-yard field goal. Patrick Mahomes then ran for a 3-yard touchdown to put the Chiefs back on top 24–17. The Bengals scored the remaining points in the fourth quarter with McPherson's 41-yard field goal, making it 24–20 and taking the lead with Joe Burrow's 8-yard touchdown pass to Chris Evans. After a missed 55-yard field goal by Harrison Butker, the Bengals faced 3rd and 11. The Bengals converted, making the final score 27–24.
The Bengals improved to 8–4 with the win. Joe Burrow's personal starting record against Patrick Mahomes improved to 3–0.
Week 14: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 14: Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Browns
0
3
7
0
10
Bengals
0
13
7
3
23
at Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Date: December 11
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 48 °F (9 °C)
Game attendance: 66,222
Referee: Jerome Boger
TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta and AJ Ross
Bills players kneel (bottom left) as an ambulance takes Damar Hamlin off the field.
The game was suspended with 5:58 remaining in the first quarter after an injury to Damar Hamlin, who was sent to the hospital in critical condition after suffering cardiac arrest and collapsing on the field.[30] The NFL released a statement that said that the game would not be resumed during the week, and that the team's week 18 game would be played as scheduled. On January 5, the NFL announced the game would not be resumed and would be ruled a no-contest.[31][32][33] It was the only time in NFL history that a regular season game has been canceled after starting and was never made up.[34][35]
Week 18: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 18: Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
^ abLA Chargers finished ahead of Baltimore based on conference record (7–5 vs. 6–6).
^ abMiami finished ahead of Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory.
^ abcNY Jets and Tennessee finished ahead of Cleveland based on conference record (5–7 vs. 4–8).
^ abNY Jets finished ahead of Tennessee based on common record (3–3 vs. 2–4 against: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Denver, Green Bay, Jacksonville).
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
^Game started on January 2. Due to an injury involving Damar Hamlin, the game was postponed part way through the first quarter.[28] On January 5, the game was canceled.[29]
5
