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Cincinnati Bengals History | 2017 - Bengals.com

2017

Summary

The Bengals in 2017 celebrated their 50th season by creating a commemorative 50th logo for team uniforms and apparel, introducing special signage throughout the stadium and the city, and honoring Bengals legends at halftime of each home game. On the field, the Bengals finished the 2017 season in third place of the AFC North Division at 7-9 and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The offense failed to score a TD in the team's first two games, which included a 20-0 shutout at home in the opener vs. Baltimore and 13-9 loss to Houston on national TV on Thursday Night Football. Offensive coordinator Ken Zampese was fired on Sept. 15, and QBs coach Bill Lazor was named as his replacement. Despite the adjustment, the Bengals ended the season ranked last in the NFL in total offense, averaging just 280.5 yards per game. The team allowed 40 sacks and produced just a 3.6-yard average per rush. The Bengals' defense was on the field for 184 more plays than the offense (1146 to 962), the equivalent of nearly three extra games of action. That perhaps contributed to additional injuries to defensive players, as the Bengals relied heavily upon backups as the season progressed. The defense, which ranked No. 2 in the NFL through Week 6, fell to No. 18 by the end of the season. After a 33-7 loss vs. Chicago in Week 14 and a 34-7 loss at Minnesota in Week 15 dropped their record to 5-9, the Bengals rebounded to win their final two games of the season and knock both of their opponents — Detroit and Baltimore — out of playoff contention. The Bengals' win in the season finale came in dramatic fashion, as the team stunned the Ravens at Baltimore with a knockout TD in the final minute to eliminate the Ravens from the playoffs. QB Andy Dalton hit WR Tyler Boyd for a 49-yard score on fourth down with 44 seconds left to give the Bengals the win. The win helped elevate Buffalo to the playoffs for the first time since 1999, and Bills fans showed their appreciation of Dalton's last-minute heroics by donating heavily to his charity. Bills backers made a large number of $17 contributions ($1 for each of the 17 consecutive non-playoff seasons for the Bills), and in the end, more than $450,000 in donations were made to the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation. LB Carl Lawson led all NFL rookies in sacks (8.5) in 2017, and DT Geno Atkins led all NFL interior linemen in sacks (nine). Bengals co-founder Pete Brown, 74, died on Dec. 12. Brown, who was senior vice president of player personnel, had worked in the mid-1960s with his father, Paul, and brother, Mike, to bring pro football to Cincinnati. Two days after the season ended, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis signed a two-year extension through 2019. Offensive line coach Paul Alexander, the second-longest tenured assistant in Bengals history at 24 seasons, departed for the Dallas Cowboys after his contract was not renewed by Cincinnati.

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League Rankings

Table inside Article
TOTAL RUSH PASS
OFFENSE 32 (280.5) 31 (85.4) 27 (195.1)
DEFENSE 18 (339.1) 30 (127.9) 8 (211.2)
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Year Totals

Table inside Article
PLAYS FIRST DOWNS NET YDS RUSH NET YDS PASS TOTAL NET YDS PTS
OFFENSE 927 267 1366 3122 4488 290
DEFENSE 1091 325 2046 3379 5425 349
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Individual Leaders

Table inside Article
PLAYER CATEGORY
Randy Bullock Scoring
Andy Dalton Passing
Joe Mixon Rushing
A.J. Green Receptions
A.J. Green Receiving Yards
Kevin Huber Punting
Alex Erickson Punt Returns
Alex Erickson Kickoff Returns
Randy Bullock Field Goals
Darqueze Dennard Interceptions
Geno Atkins Sacks
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Coaching Staff

Table inside Article
COACH POSITION
Marvin Lewis Head Coach
Paul Alexander Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Line
Jacob Burney Defensive Line
Kyle Caskey Running Backs
Brayden Coombs Assistant Special Teams / Defensive Quality Control
Robert Couch Offensive Quality Control / Offensive Line
Kevin Coyle Secondary
Jeff Friday Assistant Strength and Conditioning
Paul Guenther Defensive Coordinator
Jim Haslett Linebackers
Jonathan Hayes Tight Ends
Bill Lazor* Quarterbacks
Marcus Lewis Defensive Quality Control / Defensive Line
David Lippincott Assistant Linebackers / Quality Control
Robert Livingston Secondary
Chip Morton Strength and Conditioning
Dan Pitcher Offensive Assistant / Wide Receivers
Darrin Simmons Special Teams Coordinator
James Urban Wide Receivers
Ken Zampese** Offensive Coordinator

*Was Quarterbacks Coach for Games 1-2 and Offensive Coordinator for Games 3-16.

**Released after Game 2.

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2017 NFL Draft: April 27 - 29

Table inside Article
ROUND PLAYER POSITION COLLEGE SELECTION NUMBER
1 John Ross WR Washington 9
2 (sent to Minnesota in trade on 4-28-17) 41
2 Joe Mixon (acquired from Minnesota in trade on 4-28-17) RB Oklahoma 48
3 Jordan Willis DE Kansas State 73
4a Carl Lawson LB Auburn 116
4b Josh Malone (acquired from Minnesota in trade on 4-28-17) WR Tennessee 128
4c Ryan Glasgow DT Michigan *138
5a Jake Elliott K Memphis 153
5b J.J. Dielman C Utah *176
6a Jordan Evans LB Oklahoma 193
6b Brandon Wilson S Houston 207
6 (sent to Tennessee in trade on 4-29-17) *217
7 (sent to Tennessee in trade on 4-29-17) 227
7 Mason Schreck TE Buffalo

*NOTE: The Bengals received four compensatory picks (Nos. 138, 176, 217 and 251).

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Pro Bowl

Players selected for the 2017 Pro Bowl: DT Geno Atkins, WR A.J. Green, LS Clark Harris

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