NFL team season
The1973 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's 4th season in theNational Football League , and the 6th overall.
The Bengals split their first eight games, then swept their last six to win their second AFC Central Division title. Cincinnati qualified for the postseason but lost in the Divisional Playoffs to the Super Bowl winner, the Miami Dolphins 34–16.
RB Essex Johnson became the first Bengal to achieve 100+ yards rushing and receiving in the same game. He rushed for 121 yards on 21 carries and got 116 yards on two receptions on Sep 30, 1973 at San Diego. Perhaps one of the best marks of the season for the Bengals was givingthe eventual NFC Champion Minnesota Vikings their most lopsided loss of the season 27–0.
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1973 Cincinnati Bengals staff Front office
President – John Sawyer Director of Player Personnel – Pete Brown Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 16 atDenver Broncos L 10–280–1 Mile High Stadium 49,059 2 September 23 Houston Oilers W 24–101–1 Riverfront Stadium 51,823 3 September 30 atSan Diego Chargers W 20–132–1 San Diego Stadium 46,733 4 October 7 atCleveland Browns L 10–172–2 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 70,805 5 October 14 Pittsburgh Steelers W 19–73–2 Riverfront Stadium 55,819 6 October 21 Kansas City Chiefs W 14–64–2 Riverfront Stadium 56,397 7 October 28 atPittsburgh Steelers L 13–204–3 Three Rivers Stadium 45,761 8 November 4 atDallas Cowboys L 10–384–4 Texas Stadium 54,944 9 November 11 atBuffalo Bills W 16–135–4 Rich Stadium 76,927 10 November 18 New York Jets W 20–146–4 Riverfront Stadium 55,745 11 November 25 St. Louis Cardinals W 42–247–4 Riverfront Stadium 50,918 12 December 2 Minnesota Vikings W 27–08–4 Riverfront Stadium 57,859 13 December 9 Cleveland Browns W 34–179–4 Riverfront Stadium 58,266 14 December 16 atHouston Oilers W 27–2410–4 Astrodome 21,955 Note: Intra-division opponents are inbold text.
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Oilers 7 0 3 0 10 • Bengals 0 10 0 14 24
Scoring summary Q1 HOU Gresham 103 yard kickoff return (Butler kick)HOU 7–0 Q2 CIN Johnson 11 yard run (Muhlmann kick)Tie 7–7 Q2 CIN Muhlmann 27 yard field goal CIN 10–7 Q3 HOU Butler 38 yard field goal Tie 10–10 Q4 CIN Clark 3 yard run (Muhlmann kick)CIN 17–10 Q4 CIN Trumpy 35 yard pass fromAnderson (Muhlmann kick)CIN 24–10
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Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP PIT CIN 1 Bengals 20-yard field goal byMuhlmann 0 3 1 Bengals 19-yard field goal by Muhlmann 0 6 2 Bengals 20-yard field goal by Muhlmann 0 9 3 Bengals Clark 3-yard touchdown run, Muhlmann kick good0 16 4 Bengals 41-yard field goal by Muhlmann 0 19 4 Steelers Pearson 1-yard touchdown run,Gerela kick good7 19 "TOP" =time of possession . For other American football terms, seeGlossary of American football . 7 19
1973 Cincinnati Bengals Team Stats TEAM STATS Bengals Opponents TOTAL FIRST DOWNS 252 219 Rushing 124 109 Passing 108 97 Penalty 20 13 TOTAL NET YARDS 4512 3705 Avg Per Game 322.3 264.6 Total Plays 871 840 Avg. Per Play 5.2 4.4 NET YARDS RUSHING 2236 1807 Avg. Per Game 159.7 129.1 Total Rushes 515 459 NET YARDS PASSING 2276 1898 Avg. Per Game 162.6 135.6 Sacked Yards Lost 24–163 43–342 Gross Yards 2439 2240 Att. Completions 332–180 338–182 Completion Pct. 54.2 53.8 Intercepted 12 18 PUNTS-AVERAGE 68–41 77–41.7 PENALTIES-YARDS 83–799 78–710 FUMBLES-BALL LOST 25–14 31–16 TOUCHDOWNS 32 27 Rushing 13 15 Passing 18 9 Returns 1 3
Score by Periods 1 2 3 4 Tot Bengals 39 100 79 68 286 Opponents 50 61 58 62 231
Passing: Ken Anderson (329 Att, 179 Comp, 2428 Yds, 54.4 Pct, 18 TD, 12 Int, 81.2 Rating) Rushing: Essex Johnson (195 Att, 997 Yds, 5.1 Avg, 46 Long, 4 TD) Receiving: Isaac Curtis (45 Rec, 843 Yds, 18.7 Avg, 77 Long, 9 TD) Scoring: Horst Muhlmann, 94 points (21 FG; 31 PAT) Pro Bowl Selections [ edit ]
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (11) Conference championships (3) Retired numbers Ring of Honor Media Current league affiliations Former league affiliation
