History

Record: 8-8-0 (2nd in AFC Central); 5-3 at home, 3-5 on road Head Coach: Sam Wyche
Date	Opponent	W-L	Score	Att.	Stadium
September 2	at Denver	L	17-20	74,178	Mile High
September 9	Kansas City	L	22-27	47,111	Riverfront
September 16	at NY Jets	L	23-43	64,193	Giants
September 23	LA Rams	L	14-24	45,406	Riverfront
October 1	at Pittsburgh	L	17-38	57,098	Three Rivers
October 7	Houston	W	13-3	43,637	Riverfront
October 14	at New England	L	14-20	48,154	Sullivan
October 21	Cleveland	W	12-9	50,667	Riverfront
October 28	at Houston	W	31-13	34,010	Astrodome
November 4	at San Francisco	L	17-23	58,324	Candlestick Park
November 11	Pittsburgh	W	22-20	52,497	Riverfront
November 18	Seattle	L	6-26	50,280	Riverfront
November 25	Atlanta	W	35-14	44,678	Riverfront
December 2	at Cleveland	W	20-17 (OT)	51,774	Cleveland
December 9	at New Orleans	W	24-21	40,855	Louisiana Superdome
December 16	Buffalo	W	52-21	55,771	Riverfront

Pete Johnson was traded to San Diego for running back James Brooks. The Bengals lost their first five games, then bounced back to win eight of the last 11 and force the AFC Central Division championship race into the final week of the season, only to fall a game short of Pittsburgh. Cincinnati finished 8-8.