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.
League Rankings
| TOTAL | RUSH | PASS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| OFFENSE | 13 (299.6) | T-18 (132.9) | 7 (166.6) |
| DEFENSE | 21 (294.6) | 13 (135.5) | 23 (159.1) |
Year Totals
| PLAYS | FIRST DOWNS | NET YDS RUSH | NET YDS PASS | TOTAL NET YDS | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OFFENSE | 904 | 248 | 1861 | 2333 | 4194 | 238 |
| DEFENSE | 901 | 253 | 1897 | 2227 | 4124 | 235 |
Individual Leaders
| PLAYER | CATEGORY |
|---|---|
| Chris Bahr | Scoring |
| Ken Anderson | Passing |
| Pete Johnson | Rushing |
| Billy Brooks | Receptions |
| Billy Brooks | Receiving Yards |
| Pat McInally | Punting |
| Tony Davis | Punt Return |
| Willie Shelby | Kickoff Returns |
| Chris Bahr | Field Goals |
| Lemar Parrish, Reggie Williams | Interceptions |
| Gary Burley | Sacks |
Coaching Staff
| COACH | POSITION |
|---|---|
| Bill Johnson | Head Coach |
| Howard Brinker | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| Jack Donaldson | Offensive Backfield |
| Boyd Dowler | Quarterbacks/Receivers |
| Chuck Studley | Defensive Line |
| Charley Winner | Defensive Backfield |
| Kim Wood | Strength |
1977 NFL Draft: May 3-4
| ROUND | PLAYER | POSITION | COLLEGE | SELECTION NUMBER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a | Eddie Edwards (acquired from Buffalo in trade on 6-23-76) | DT | Miami (Fla.) | 3 |
| 1b | Wilson Whitley (acquired from Philadelphia in trade on 7-10-74) | DT | Houston | 8 |
| 1c | Mike Cobb | TE | Michigan State | 22 |
| 2 | Pete Johnson | RB | Ohio State | 49 |
| 3 | Mike Voight | RB | North Carolina | 76 |
| 4a | Rick Walker (acquired from Tampa Bay in trade on 9-7-76) | TE | UCLA | 85 |
| 4b | Mike Wilson | T | Georgia | 103 |
| 5 | Ray Phillips | LB | Nebraska | 133 |
| 6 | Tom Duniven | QB | Texas Tech | 160 |
| 7a | Louis Breeden | DB | North Carolina Central | 187 |
| 7b | Jim Corbett (acquired from Minnesota in trade on 6-3-76) | TE | Pittsburgh | 194 |
| 8 | Jose Saint-Victor | G | Syracuse | 214 |
| 9 | Willie Zachary | WR | Central State (Ohio) | 245 |
| 10 | Bob Bialik | P | Hillsdale (Mich.) | 272 |
| 11a | Joel Parrish (acquired from San Diego in trade on 3-1-77) | G | Georgia | 292 |
| 11b | Carl Allen | DB | Southern Mississippi | 299 |
| 12 | Alex Percival | WR | Morehouse (Ga.) | 326 |
Pro Bowl
Players selected for the 1977 NFL Pro Bowl: DE Coy Bacon, S Tommy Casanova, CB Lemar Parrish