Cincinnati Bengals History | 1977 - Bengals.com

1977

Summary

Head coach Bill Johnson posted a second straight winning record (8-6), but the team missed the playoffs, one game behind AFC Central champion Pittsburgh. The Bengals logged a huge win in Game 15, beating Pittsburgh 17-10 in a Saturday afternoon contest at frigid Riverfront Stadium (temperatures hovering between five and 10 degrees). The game left the teams tied for the division lead, and the Bengals were assured of winning a season-end tiebreaker, based on better point differential in their 1-1 season split with the Steelers. But on the final weekend, Pittsburgh won 10-9 over San Diego, and the Bengals fell 21-16 at Houston. The Oilers tied the Bengals' 8-6 record and officially took second place in a tiebreaker, but Houston also missed the postseason. The Bengals rallied into contention after a 2-3 start that included a season-opening loss to underdog Cleveland, the first time the Bengals had lost in a season opener played at home, following six straight wins in that situation. On Nov. 13 at Minnesota, QB Ken Anderson and WR Billy Brooks teamed up for a 94-yard TD pass, which stands through 2017 as the longest pass play in franchise history. The season ended the NFL's 17-year run (1961-77) of playing a 14-game regular-season schedule.

770117-Lemar_Parrish-Pro_Bowl-AP_483114733353-NFL Photos-NEW

League Rankings

Table inside Article
TOTALRUSHPASS
OFFENSE13 (299.6)T-18 (132.9)7 (166.6)
DEFENSE21 (294.6)13 (135.5)23 (159.1)

Year Totals

Table inside Article
PLAYSFIRST DOWNSNET YDS RUSHNET YDS PASSTOTAL NET YDSPTS
OFFENSE904248186123334194238
DEFENSE901253189722274124235
770117-Bengals_Curtis_Pro_Bowl-AP_535404782955-NFL Photos-NEW

Individual Leaders

Table inside Article
PLAYERCATEGORY
Chris BahrScoring
Ken AndersonPassing
Pete JohnsonRushing
Billy BrooksReceptions
Billy BrooksReceiving Yards
Pat McInallyPunting
Tony DavisPunt Return
Willie ShelbyKickoff Returns
Chris BahrField Goals
Lemar Parrish, Reggie WilliamsInterceptions
Gary BurleySacks

Coaching Staff

Table inside Article
COACHPOSITION
Bill JohnsonHead Coach
Howard BrinkerDefensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Jack DonaldsonOffensive Backfield
Boyd DowlerQuarterbacks/Receivers
Chuck StudleyDefensive Line
Charley WinnerDefensive Backfield
Kim WoodStrength

1977 NFL Draft: May 3-4

Table inside Article
ROUNDPLAYERPOSITIONCOLLEGESELECTION NUMBER
1aEddie Edwards (acquired from Buffalo in trade on 6-23-76)DTMiami (Fla.)3
1bWilson Whitley (acquired from Philadelphia in trade on 7-10-74)DTHouston8
1cMike CobbTEMichigan State22
2Pete JohnsonRBOhio State49
3Mike VoightRBNorth Carolina76
4aRick Walker (acquired from Tampa Bay in trade on 9-7-76)TEUCLA85
4bMike WilsonTGeorgia103
5Ray PhillipsLBNebraska133
6Tom DunivenQBTexas Tech160
7aLouis BreedenDBNorth Carolina Central187
7bJim Corbett (acquired from Minnesota in trade on 6-3-76)TEPittsburgh194
8Jose Saint-VictorGSyracuse214
9Willie ZacharyWRCentral State (Ohio)245
10Bob BialikPHillsdale (Mich.)272
11aJoel Parrish (acquired from San Diego in trade on 3-1-77)GGeorgia292
11bCarl AllenDBSouthern Mississippi299
12Alex PercivalWRMorehouse (Ga.)326

Pro Bowl

Players selected for the 1977 NFL Pro Bowl: DE Coy Bacon, S Tommy Casanova, CB Lemar Parrish

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