In the weeks leading up to training camp, we will look back at a few of the most pivotal seasons in Bengals history. Here's a look back at the 1970 season, the first of the AFL-NFL merger.
Season Summary
The Bengals moved into the NFL as a part of the AFL-NFL merger before the 1970 season. The full merger resulted in 26 teams split into two conferences, now known as the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers joined the 10 AFL teams in the AFC. The Bengals were a part of the AFC Central Division, along with Cleveland, Pittsburgh and the Houston Oilers.
1970 was also the debut of the new dual-sport downtown stadium, named Cincinnati Riverfront Stadium. The Bengals shared the stadium with the Reds, and the capacity was roughly double the capacity of Nippert Stadium on the University of Cincinnati campus, where the Bengals played in 1968 and 1969.
On the field, the Bengals became the youngest team at the time to reach the playoffs, making it to the dance in their third year of existence. They claimed the AFC Central crown with an 8-6 record, edging out Cleveland by one game.
Cincinnati began the season with a win at Riverfront Stadium, defeating the Oakland Raiders 31-21 for the first regular season win in the new stadium. However, six straight losses plummeted the Bengals to 1-6 halfway through the season.
Rookie Lemar Parrish helped spark the Cincinnati turnaround in Week 8 against the Buffalo Bills, recording a kickoff return for a touchdown, a blocked field goal for a touchdown and grabbing an interception in the 43-14 victory. The Bengals would follow up the win in Buffalo with a crucial win over the division rival Browns to put them back on track to make noise late in the season.
Cincinnati would not lose the rest of the regular season, winning seven straight games and claiming the AFC Central. It clinched the division in the final week, dominating the Boston Patriots 45-7 in front of 60,157 fans, the largest sports crowd in Cincinnati history at the time.
The Bengals would go on to lose 17-0 to the Baltimore Colts in the Divisional Round. The Colts, led by Hall of Fame QB Johnny Unitas, defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V.
Notables
The Bengals hoped QB Greg Cook, who led the AFL in passing in 1969 and won rookie of the year, would take them into the 70s and beyond. However, an arm injury sidelined the rookie sensation for the rest of his career. As a result, Sam Wyche would start three games in 1970 before Virgil Carter took over for the rest of the campaign. Carter threw seven interceptions in the team's first seven games but only two in the last seven, helping turn the season around.
TE Bob Trumpy was named to his third straight Pro Bowl, but it was WR Chip Myers who led the team in receiving yards (542) and receptions (32). The Bengals were led by their ground attack, as RB Paul Robinson and FB Jess Phillips combined for over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. As a team, Cincinnati ranked fourth in the league in rushing, averaging 146.9 yards per game.
Cincinnati drafted Parrish in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL Draft. Parrish would be named to his first of eight Pro Bowls in 1970, leading the team in interceptions and kick and punt return yards.
Paul Brown would be named the 1970 NFL Coach of the Year.
