Summary
Coming off a memorable 2021 campaign highlighted by a postseason run to Super Bowl LVI, the '22 Bengals put together another historic season that included a second straight AFC North Division title and a repeat appearance in the AFC Championship. Cincinnati finished the regular season 12-4, tying for the most wins in a season in team history. After a Week 8 loss at Cleveland left the team 4-4 heading into November, it proceeded to tie another franchise record with eight consecutive victories, five of which came against teams that qualified for the playoffs the previous year. The Bengals, who adopted the mantra "They Gotta Play US," prior to a Week 12 victory at Tennessee, emerged as one of the hottest teams in the NFL down the stretch. They claimed the AFC North crown prior to the regular-season finale, then went on to defeat Baltimore in the Wild Card Playoff and Buffalo in the Divisional Playoff. Cincinnati once again traveled to Kansas City to face the Chiefs in the AFC Championship, but this time came up short in a 23-20 loss to end the season.
The 2022 Bengals were fueled by a talented young roster headlined by QB Joe Burrow, who in his third pro season further established himself as one of the league's elite signal callers. Burrow passed for 35 TDs, eclipsing his own team record set in 2021, while also ranking fifth in the NFL in both completions (414, team record) and passing yards (4475). He was selected to the Pro Bowl alongside his top target, second-year WR Ja'Marr Chase. Chase led the Bengals in receptions (87), receiving yards (1046) and
receiving TDs (nine) during the regular season, despite missing four games due to a hip injury. The 2021 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year joined former WR A.J. Green as the only players in team history with consecutive 1000-yard receiving seasons to begin their career. With Chase out of the lineup for Weeks 8-12, fellow WR Tee Higgins was relied on as the team's No. 1 receiving option and finished the year with 74 catches for 1029 yards and seven TDs.
Defensively, Cincinnati allowed just 20.1 points per game, the sixth-lowest average in the NFL, while it held opposing QBs to a league-low 58.9 completion percentage. The Bengals' defense boasted playmakers on all three levels, led by a line that spearheaded the NFL's seventh-ranked run defense (106.6). DE Trey Hendrickson had a team-leading eight sacks and three FFs to earn his second straight Pro Bowl nod. At LB, Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt each set a career high in total tackles with 123 and 99, respectively, while also combining for 3.5 sacks and three INTs. The secondary featured a veteran safety duo in Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell, who each had a career-best four INTs and started all 19 games through the regular and postseason. After starting CB Chidobe Awuzie suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 8, rookie CB Cam Taylor-Britt stepped in and quickly asserted himself as a foundational piece on the Bengals roster. Taylor-Britt had 55 tackles and six PDs in the regular season, then grabbed his first career INT to seal the Divisional Playoff win at Buffalo.
Cincinnati's postseason began with a 24-17 home win over Baltimore that notably produced one of the most iconic plays in Bengals history. With the score tied 17-17 early in the fourth quarter and Baltimore possessing the ball at the Cincinnati one-yard line, Ravens QB Tyler Huntley attempted to reach it over a pile of linemen, but was met at the summit by Logan Wilson, who knocked it out of his hands and into the waiting arms of DE Sam Hubbard. Hubbard ran 98 yards to the opposite end zone, evading Ravens TE Mark Andrews in the process, to score what ended up being the game-deciding TD. It was the longest fumble return for a TD in NFL postseason history, and the longest score of any kind in Bengals postseason history. The following week in a snowy setting at Buffalo's Highmark Stadium, the Bengals jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back, dominating both lines of scrimmage to cruise to a 27-10 victory. Burrow completed each of his first nine pass attempts to lead two straight TD drives, and Cincinnati finished with 412 offensive net yards (172 rushing). Defensively, it held Buffalo to just 64 rushing yards and 10 points, the second-fewest allowed in a game in Bengals postseason history. Cincinnati became the fourth team in NFL history to win both a home and road playoff game in back-to-back seasons.
Ryan Meyer, Bengals Photographer, picks his favorite photos from the 2022 season.
WR Tyler Boyd enters the field ahead of the Steelers-Bengals Week 1 Game at Paycor Stadium.
C Trey Hill runs out of the tunnel before the Steelers-Bengals Week 1 Game at Paycor Stadium.
WR Ja'Marr Chase makes an acrobatic catch during the Steelers-Bengals Week 1 Game at Paycor Stadium.
TE Hayden Hurst celebrates after a catch during the Steelers-Bengals Week 1 Game at Paycor Stadium.
QB Joe Burrow looks for an opening in the defense during the Bengals-Cowboys Week 2 Game at AT&T Stadium.
QB Joe Burrow looks for an open receiver during the Bengals-Cowboys Week 2 Game at AT&T Stadium.
DE Trey Hendrickson celebrates after sacking the Jets quarterback during the Bengals-Jets Week 3 Game at Metlife Stadium.
CB Eli Apple enters the field before the Dolphins-Bengals Week 4 Game at Paycor Stadium.
WR Ja'Marr Chase warms up before the Dolphins-Bengals Week 4 Game at Paycor Stadium.
WR Tee Higgins signals for a first down during the Dolphins-Bengals Week 4 Game at Paycor Stadium.
WR Ja'Marr Chase catches a TD pass during the Bengals-Saints Week 6 Game at Caesars Superdome.
WR Ja'Marr Chase (Left) and WR Tyler Boyd celebrate with the fans after a touchdown during the Bengals-Falcons Week 7 Game at Paycor Stadium.
QB Joe Burrow jogs onto the field before the Panthers-Bengals Week 9 Game at Paycor Stadium.
DT B.J. Hill runs to celebrate with the fans during the Panthers-Bengals Week 9 Game at Paycor Stadium.
WR Trent Taylor backflps after the Bengals beat the Tennessee Titans 20-16 during Week 12 of the 2022 NFL Season.
Bengals defenders celebrate in the locker room after the Bengals 20-16 Win against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.
WR Tyler Boyd breaks a tackle from a defender during the Chiefs-Bengals Week 13 Game at Paycor Stadium.
WR Ja'Marr Chase attemps to catch a pass from Joe Burrow during the Chiefs-Bengals Week 13 Game at Paycor Stadium.
QB Joe Burrow and WR Tee Higgins celebrate after a TD during the Chiefs-Bengals Week 13 Game at Paycor Stadium.
DE Sam Hubbard sacks the quarterback during the Chiefs-Bengals Week 13 Game at Paycor Stadium.
QB Joe Burrow dives in for the touchdown during the Chiefs-Bengals Week 13 Game at Paycor Stadium.
LB Logan Wilson runs out of the tunnel before the Browns-Bengals Week 14 Game at Paycor Stadium.
CB Cam Taylor-Britt celebrates after a pass breakup during the Browns-Bengals Week 14 Game at Paycor Stadium.
Bengals defenders celebrate after a takeaway during the Browns-Bengals Week 14 Game.
WR Tyler Boyd dives for a touchdown catch during the Bengals-Bucs Week 15 Game during the 2022 NFL Season.
QB Joe Burrow greets Bucs QB Tom Brady after the Bengals beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-23 during Week 15 of the NFL Season.
WR Ja'Marr Chase attemps to avoid defenders after making a catch during the Bengals-Patriots Week 16 Game at Gillette Stadium.
WR Trenton Irwin catches a TD pass during the Bengals-Patriots Week 16 Game at Gillette Stadium.
QB Joe Burrow watches the pregame flyover at Paycor Stadium before the Ravens-Bengals Week 18 Game.
Bengals defenders celebrate in the end zone after a fumble recovery for a touchdown during the Ravens-Bengals Week 18 Game at Paycor Stadium.
QB Joe Burrow celebrates in the locker room after the Bengals beat the Baltimore Ravens during Week 18 and clinched the AFC North Championship at Paycor Stadium.
Bengals players celebrate winning the AFC North by lighting cigars after the Bengals beat the Ravens 27-16 during Week 18 of the 2022 NFL Season.
DE Sam Hubbard races towards the endzone after a fumble recovery during the Ravens-Bengals 2022 AFC Wild Card Game.
DE Sam Hubbard watches himself on the video screen after his fumble return for a touchdown during the Ravens-Bengals 2022 AFC Wild Card Game.
Bengals defenders celebrates after a takeaway during the Ravens-Bengals 2022 AFC Wild Card Game.
DT B.J. Hill celebrates after making a tackle during the Ravens-Bengals 2022 AFC Wild Card Game.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates after a catch during the Ravens-Bengals 2022 AFC Wild Card Game.
WR Ja'Marr Chase (Left) and WR Tee Higgins celebrate after a takeaway during the Ravens-Bengals 2022 AFC Wild Card Game.
Bengals defenders celebrate after a takeaway during the Ravens-Bengals 2022 AFC Wild Card Game.
QB Joe Burrow and DE Sam Hubbard embrace after the Bengals AFC Wild Card Win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Sam Hubbard and Joe Burrow celebrate with fans during the Ravens-Bengals 2022 AFC Wild Card Game.
QB Joe Burrow gazes into the crowd before the Bengals-Bills AFC Divisional Round Game at Highmark Stadium.
TE Hayden Hurst prepares himself pregame before the Bengals take on the Buffalo Bills in the 2022 AFC Divisional Round Playoff Game.
S Jessie Bates III prepares for kickoff before the Bengals take on the Buffalo Bills in the 2022 AFC Divisional Round.
C Ted Karras prepares to the snap the ball during the Bengals-Bills 2022 AFC Divisional Round Game.
QB Joe Burrow celebrates during the Bengals-Bills 2022 AFC Divisional Round Game.
S Dax Hill breaks up a pass during the Bengals-Bills 2022 AFC Divisional Round Game.
S Vonn Bell celebrates after an interception during the Bengals-Bills 2022 AFC Divisional Round Game.
CB Cam Taylor-Britt celebrates after the Bengals 27-10 Divisional Round Win against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates after a first down during the Bengals-Chiefs AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium.
Off The Field
The team also enjoyed success off the field in 2022. Prior to the first preseason contest in August, the Bengals and Cincinnati-based Paycor expanded their partnership to include stadium naming rights, changing what was formerly known as Paul Brown Stadium to Paycor Stadium. The venue hosted over 65,000 fans in all eight home games during the regular season and postseason, with four ranking within the top-five highest attended home contests in team history.
2022 was also the first year of the "White Bengal" uniforms. Featuring a brand new white helmet, the Bengals wore their whiteout uniforms in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football and in a Week 11 victory in Pittsburgh against the Steelers.
Coaching Staff
| COACH | POSITION |
|---|---|
| Zac Taylor | Head Coach |
| Lou Anarumo | Defensive Coordinator |
| Colt Anderson | Assistant Special Teams |
| James Bettcher | Linebackers |
| Joey Boese | Strength and Conditioning |
| Charles Burks | Secondary/Cornerbacks |
| Brian Callahan | Offensive Coordinator |
| James Casey | Tight Ends |
| Louie Cioffi | Defensive Quality Control |
| Mark Duffner | Senior Defensive Assistant |
| Derek Frazier | Assistant Offensive Live |
| Justin Hill | Running Backs |
| Marion Hobby | Defensive Line |
| Todd Hunt | Assistant Strength and Conditioning |
| Freddie Knighten | Offensive Assistant |
| Jordan Kovacs | Assistant Linebackers |
| Brad Kragthorpe | Assistant Wide Recievers |
| Robert Livingston | Secondary/Safeties |
| Dan Pitcher | Quarterbacks |
| Frank Pollack | Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator |
| Darrin Simmons | Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator |
| Garrett Swanson | Assistant Strength and Conditioning |
| Troy Walters | Wide Receivers |
2021 NFL Draft: April 29-May 1
| ROUND | PLAYER | POSITION | COLLEGE | SELECTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dax Hill | DB | Michigan | 31 |
| 2 | Cam Taylor-Britt | DB | Nebraska | 60 |
| 3 | Zach Carter | DL | Florida | 95 |
| 4 | Cordell Volson | OL | North Dakota State | 136 |
| 5 | Tcyen Anderson | DB | Toledo | 166 |
| 7 | Jeff Gunter | DL | Coastal Carolina | 252 |
