CINCINNATI BENGALS HISTORY: 1988
1988 FINAL RESULTS
Record: 12-4-0 (1st in AFC Central); 8-0 at home, 4-4 on road Head Coach: Sam Wyche |
| Date | Opponent | W-L | Score | Att. | Stadium |
|---|
| September 4 | Phoenix | W | 21-14 | 50,404 | Riverfront |
| September 11 | at Philadelphia | W | 28-24 | 66,459 | Veterans |
| September 18 | at Pittsburgh | W | 17-12 | 56,647 | Three Rivers |
| September 25 | Cleveland | W | 24-17 | 54,943 | Riverfront |
| October 2 | at LA Raiders | W | 45-21 | 42,594 | Los Angeles Coliseum |
| October 9 | NY Jets | W | 36-19 | 57,482 | Riverfront |
| October 16 | at New England | L | 21-27 | 59,969 | Foxboro |
| October 23 | Houston | W | 44-21 | 54,659 | Riverfront |
| October 30 | at Cleveland | L | 16-23 | 79,147 | Cleveland |
| November 6 | Pittsburgh | W | 42-7 | 56,403 | Riverfront |
| November 13 | at Kansas City | L | 28-31 | 34,614 | Arrowhead |
| November 20 | at Dallas | W | 38-24 | 37,865 | Texas |
| November 27 | Buffalo | W | 35-21 | 58,672 | Riverfront |
| December 4 | San Diego | W | 27-10 | 56,866 | Riverfront |
| December 11 | at Houston | L | 6-41 | 50,269 | Astrodome |
| December 17 | Washington | W | 20-17 (OT) | 52,157 | Riverfront |
| AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS |
| December 31 | Seattle | W | 21-13 | 58,560 | Riverfront |
| AFC CHAMPIONSHIP |
| January 8 | Buffalo | W | 21-10 | 59,747 | Riverfront |
| SUPER BOWL XXIII IN MIAMI, FLORIDA |
| January 22 | San Francisco | L | 16-20 | 75,129 | Joe Robbie |
Bengals 1988 Summary
The Bengals brought about one of the biggest turnarounds in NFL history by rising from their 4-11 finish of 1987 to a 12-4 regular-season record. They won the AFC Central Division title, and defeated Buffalo, 21-10, for the AFC Championship on Jan. 8 (1989). On Jan. 22 (1989), they appeared in their second Super Bowl and lost, 20-16, to San Francisco when the 49ers scored a touchdown with 34 seconds remaining in the game. Coach Sam Wyche's team posted a 14-5 mark in regular and postseason play, best in the NFL. Wyche received numerous honors for his brilliant coaching and nine Bengals were selected for the Pro Bowl — QB Boomer Esiason, NT Tim Krumrie, OT Anthony Muñoz, G Max Montoya, TE Rodney Holman, WR Eddie Brown, RB James Brooks, S David Fulcher and CB Eric Thomas. Esiason was voted the NFL's Most Valuable Player. In January of '88, LB Reggie Williams received the "Sportsman of the Year" award from Sports Illustrated. Rookie "Ickey" Woods led the Bengals in rushing with 1066 yards.
1988: A CLOSER LOOK
PRO BOWL PLAYERS
- RB James Brooks
- WR Eddie Brown
- QB Boomer Esiason
- S David Fulcher
- TE Rodney Holman
- NT Tim Krumrie
- G Max Montoya
- T Anthony Muñoz
- CB Eric Thomas
1988 SEASON LEADERS
- Passing: Boomer Esiason (388 Att, 223 Comp, 3572 Yds, 57.5 Pct, 28 TD, 14 Int, 97.4 Rating)
- Rushing: Ickey Woods (203 Att, 1066 Yds, 5.3 Avg, 56 Long, 15 TD)
- Receiving: Eddie Brown (53 Rec, 1273 Yds, 24.0 Avg, 86 Long, 9 TD)
- Scoring: Ickey Woods, 90 points (15 TD rushing)
1988 NEWS AND NOTES
- The most 100-yard rushing games in a Bengals season is seven, during the 12-4 season of 1988. Ickey Woods had five while James Brooks had two.
- Ickey Woods set the franchise record for most rushing yards in a postseason game when he rumbled for 126 yards in Cincinnati's 21-13 victory over Seattle in the AFC Divisional Playoffs (Dec. 31).
STADIUM
- Riverfront Stadium
1988 Helmet/Uniform
1988 Logo
The "Ickey Shuffle"
