The2022 season was theCincinnati Bengals' 53rd in theNational Football League (NFL), their 55th overall, and their fourth under head coachZac Taylor. After an 0–2 start, the Bengals quickly turned around, winning 12 out of their last 14 games to match their franchise best record of 12–4. The Bengals improved upon their 10–7 record from theprevious season and clinched the AFC North title for the second straight year. Cincinnati's Week 17 game againstBuffalo was declared a no-contest[I] after Buffalo safetyDamar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest, resulting in only 16 games played. Despite the incident, they won theAFC North and won their last game to finish 12–4, tied for the best record in the history of the franchise, but they did not clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs as 1 seed as a result of the cancellation and risked losing home advantage if they lost their last game and coin toss to theBaltimore Ravens and theLos Angeles Chargers beat theDenver Broncos.[1][2][3] Instead, they defeated Baltimore 27–16 to avoid that situation.[4]
The Bengals defeated Baltimore 24–17 in the Wild Card round. The most notable play was a fumble recovery and 98-yard touchdown return by defensive endSam Hubbard after linebackerLogan Wilson stripped the ball from Ravens quarterbackTyler Huntley on a quarterback sneak. The following week, the Bengals traveled to faceBuffalo. Despite Buffalo's home-field advantage and snowy conditions, the Bengals prevailed 27–10.[5] With the win, they advanced to theAFC Championship Game for the second consecutive year, a first in franchise history. The Bengals facedKansas City inArrowhead Stadium for a rematch of the previous year's contest and found themselves tied 20–20 late into the fourth quarter. However, a personal foul penalty by defensive endJoseph Ossai on Chiefs quarterbackPatrick Mahomes would aid a late Kansas City field goal attempt and the Bengals ultimately lost 23–20 to the eventualSuper Bowl LVII champions.
Shortly before the beginning of the preseason, the Bengals renamed their stadiumPaycor Stadium. The stadium had been named after the team's founder and first head coach,Paul Brown, since it opened in 2000.[6]
^abcThe Bengals traded second- and sixth-round selections (63rd and 209th overall) to theBuffalo Bills in exchange for a second-round selection (60th overall).
^abcThe Bengals traded fifth- and seventh-round selections (174th and 226th overall) to theChicago Bears in exchange for a fifth-round selection (166th overall).
The Bengals started the 2022 season against their division rival Steelers in Cincinnati. The Steelers scored first in the first quarter when Minkah Fitzpatrick returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown to make it 7–0. The Bengals made it 7–3 when Evan McPherson made a 59-yard field goal which was the longest in franchise history. The Steelers then went ahead 10–3 after Chris Boswell kicked a 20-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Steelers moved ahead 17–3 after Mitchell Trubisky found Najee Harris on a 1-yard touchdown pass. The Bengals drew closer at halftime when McPherson made a 26-yard field goal to make it 17–6. After the break, the Bengals came within 3 in the third quarter when Joe Burrow found Tyler Boyd on a 2-yard touchdown pass (with a successful 2-point conversion) to make it 17–14. In the fourth quarter, the Steelers moved ahead by 6 when Boswell kicked a 48-yard field goal to make it 20–14. Later on in the quarter, the Bengals tied the game when Burrow found Ja'Marr Chase on a 6-yard touchdown pass. (with a blocked PAT) to send the game into overtime tied at 20–20. After going back and forth on possessions, the Steelers managed to win the game when Boswell kicked the game winning 53-yard field goal with seconds left to make the final score 23–20.
With their 3-game winning streak against the Steelers snapped, the Bengals started the season 0–1. Wins by the Browns and Ravens would leave them at the bottom of the AFC North. Joe Burrow committed 5 turnovers throughout the course of the game (4 interceptions, 1 lost fumble).
Despite a fourth quarter comeback, the Bengals allowed the Cowboys to claim the win by marching down the field in the dying seconds of the game. With the loss, Cincinnati dropped to 0–2. This marked the third 0–2 start in four seasons, as well as the first team since the2015 Seattle Seahawks to start 0–2 after playing in the Super Bowl the year prior. This also marked the first 0–2 start by a defending AFC champion since the1999 Denver Broncos started 0–4 after winningSuper Bowl XXXIII. The Bengals once again failed to beat the Cowboys, not having done so since2004, and extended their losing streak against them to five games.
After a disappointing 0–2 start to the season, the Bengals bounced back with a win against the Jets.Trey Hendrickson had 2.5 sacks, including 2 forced fumbles, and Joe Burrow threw for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions, preventing an 0–3 start.
On Thursday Night Football, the Bengals defeated the Miami Dolphins 27–15. The Bengals had a quick start, getting a touchdown in the first possession of the game fromJoe Mixon. The Bengals defense also held the Dolphins offense to 1 touchdown.
With 1:57 left on the clock and a 2-point deficit, Joe Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase for a 60-yard touchdown, essentially winning the game. With the win, the Bengals improved to 3–3 and returned to .500
In the 2022 Battle of Ohio Round 1, the Browns made it an 11–0 halftime lead, scoring all the first half points in the second quarter. After the third quarter, they had made it 25–0. The Bengals finally got on the board in the fourth quarter, making it 25–6 by way of Joe Burrow's 13-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd (with a failed PAT). Though, the Browns scored again, making it 32–6 with Nick Chubb's 11-yard touchdown run. Joe Burrow connected with Tee Higgins on a 41-yard touchdown pass for the final points of the game, making it 32–13.
The loss dropped the Bengals to 4–4. Joe Burrow's personal starting record against the Browns dropped to 0–4. This was the Bengals' only loss of the season by more than 3 points.
The Bengals jumped out to lead 35–0 at halftime before the Panthers finally got on the board in the third with Baker Mayfield's 8-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble, making it 35–7. The Bengals made it 42–7 by way of Joe Mixon's 14-yard touchdown run. The Panthers scored the remaining points in the fourth, making the final score 42–21.
The Bengals were able to go into their bye week 5–4, which was coincidentally the same record they had in the first 9 games on the previous season.
Coming off of their bye week, the Bengals traveled for Round 2 against the Steelers. In the first quarter, the Bengals scored first when Evan McPherson kicked a 45-yard field goal to make it 3–0. The Steelers then tied it up when Matthew Wright kicked a 42-yard field goal to make it 3–3. The Bengals then moved back into the lead when Joe Burrow found Samaje Perine on a 29-yard touchdown pass to make it 10–3. In the second quarter, the Steelers tied the game up at 10–10 when Najee Harris ran for a 19-yard touchdown. The Bengals then moved into the lead again when Burrow and Perine connected on a 11-yard touchdown pass to make it 17–10. The Steelers were able to tie it up at 17–17 when Kenny Pickett found George Pickens on a 24-yard touchdown pass. They took the lead at halftime 20–17 when Wright kicked a 30-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Bengals retook the lead when Burrow found Trenton Irwin on a 1-yard touchdown pass to make it 24–20. The Steelers drew closer when Wright kicked a 34-yard field goal to make it 24–23. The Bengals then pulled away when McPherson kicked a 54-yard field goal to make it 27–23. In the fourth quarter, the Bengals scored a couple more times including a touchdown where Burrow and Perine connected for the third time on a 6-yard touchdown pass for a 34–23 lead and then McPherson kicked a 44-yard field goal to make it 37–23. The Steelers concluded the scoring of the game when Harris ran for a 1-yard touchdown. After a failed onside kick, the Bengals won with a final score of 37–30.
After a close win, the Bengals traveled again to take on the Titans. The game was tied at 10–10 at halftime. In the third quarter, Evan McPherson kicked a 38-yard field goal to make it 13–10 Bengals before the Titans tied it up at 13–13 with Caleb Shudak's 24-yard field goal. The Bengals moved up 20–13 when Joe Burrow connected with Tee Higgins on a 27-yard touchdown pass. The Titans countered with another 38-yard field goal by Shudak. After getting stopped in the red zone, the Bengals kicked a field goal to make the score 23–16. However, a personal foul against the Titans took back the field goal and resulted into an automatic first down, ending the game and making the final score 20–16.
The Bengals then went home to take on the 9–2 Chiefs. After leading 14–10 at halftime, the Chiefs took a 17–14 lead in the third quarter by way of Isiah Pacheco's 8-yard touchdown run. The Bengals then tied it up at 17–17 when Evan McPherson kicked a 36-yard field goal. Patrick Mahomes then ran for a 3-yard touchdown to put the Chiefs back on top 24–17. The Bengals scored the remaining points in the fourth quarter with McPherson's 41-yard field goal, making it 24–20 and taking the lead with Joe Burrow's 8-yard touchdown pass to Chris Evans. After a missed 55-yard field goal by Harrison Butker, the Bengals faced 3rd and 11. The Bengals converted, making the final score 27–24.
The Bengals improved to 8–4 with the upset win, and extended their winning streak in Cincinnati against the Chiefs to seven games. Joe Burrow's personal starting record against Patrick Mahomes improved to 3–0.
With the win the Bengals have beaten all NFC South teams in 2022. This win also gave the Bengals first place in the division as the Baltimore Ravens lost to the Cleveland Browns the previous day.
With their seventh straight win, the Bengals improved to 11–4. It became their first 7-game winning streak since 2015. In addition, the Bengals defeated the Patriots for the first time since2013, and for the first time on the road since1986. It was also their first victory against the Patriots after theBrady–Belichick era.
Bills players kneel (bottom left) as an ambulance takesDamar Hamlin off the field.
The game was suspended with 5:58 remaining in the first quarter after an injury toDamar Hamlin, who was sent to the hospital in critical condition after sufferingcardiac arrest and collapsing on the field.[35] The NFL released a statement that said that the game would not be resumed during the week, and that both teams' Week 18 game would be played as scheduled. On January 5, the NFL announced the game would not be resumed and would be ruled a no-contest.[36][37][38] It was the only time in NFL history that a regular season game has been canceled after starting and was never made up.[39][40] Due to the cancellation, the Bengals stayed at 11–4.
^abLA Chargers claimed the No. 5 seed over Baltimore based on conference record (7–5 vs. 6–6).
^abMiami finished ahead of Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory, claiming the 7th and final playoff spot.
^abcNY Jets and Tennessee finished ahead of Cleveland based on conference record (5–7 vs. 4–8).
^abNY Jets finished ahead of Tennessee based on common record (3–3 vs. 2–4 against: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Denver, Green Bay, Jacksonville).
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
The game started with a drive that ended with an Evan McPherson field goal making the game 3–0. However,Tyler Huntley threw an interception toAkeem Davis-Gaither which resulted into another Bengals drive that ended with a score, this time a touchdown to Ja'Marr Chase from Joe Burrow. The extra point was missed, making the game 9–0. The Ravens bounced back from the early deficit however, with a touchdown toJ. K. Dobbins that caused the score to become 9–7. Before Halftime, the Ravens got into the redzone, but were stopped short of the goal line, which forced them to settle for a field goal, making the score 9–10. After getting the ball back at halftime, the Ravens drive stalled, which eventually ended up into a Bengals touchdown from Joe Burrow rushing into the endzone. The Bengals went for two and scored with Tee Higgins after the touchdown, making the score 17–10. The Ravens responded with a burnt coverage play that resulted into a 41-yard touchdown by Demarcus Robinson, making the game 17-17. After a stalled drive by the Bengals, the Ravens got the ball back. Tyler Huntley ran for a 35-yard gain all the way to the Bengals two-yard line, withJessie Bates making the touchdown saving tackle. Facing third and goal, Tyler Huntley attempted a diving quarterback sneak, but fumbled before he got over the endzone.Sam Hubbard caught the fumble and returned it 98 yards to the Bengals end zone, forcing the score to 24–17. After exchanging stalled drives, the Ravens made on final attempt to force the game to overtime. Facing a 4th and 20 with only 8 seconds left at the Cincinnati 27,[41] Tyler Huntley threw a deep pass to the end zone. The pass was originally deflected, butJames Proche failed to catch the falling ball, forcing a turnover on downs and winning the game for the Bengals.
^abGame started on January 2. Due to an injury involving Buffalo safetyDamar Hamlin, the game was postponed part way through the first quarter.[33] On January 5, the game was cancelled.[34]
5
