The Bengals limped into the game with a 1-11-1 record and were coming off back-to-back blowout losses (34-3 vs. Baltimore and 35-3 at Indianapolis), but they jumped out to a 17-0 lead and held off the playoff-hopeful Redskins for a victory that essentially jump-started the run of success they are still on today.
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a touchdown pass to Chris Henry and ran for another score to spark the victory that would begin a three-game winning streak to end the season. The Bengals rolled that momentum into the 2009 season, where they won the AFC North by sweeping the division, beginning a run of four playoff appearances in five years – and it soon could be five in six years.
The Redskins quarterback that day was Jason Campbell, the current backup to Andy Dalton. Campbell threw for 167 yards and a touchdown.
Dec. 14, 2003 – Cincinnati Bengals 41, San Francisco 49ers 38 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Rudi Johnson rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bengals to their fifth win in six games and putting them in reach of the playoffs at 8-6 in Marvin Lewis’ rookie season as head coach. Jon Kitna added 189 passing yards and threw touchdowns to Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick to offset 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia’s 344 yards and two touchdowns.
Dec. 14, 1997 – Cincinnati Bengals 31, Dallas Cowboys 24 at Riverfront Stadium.
On the one-year anniversary of signing a contract extension after replacing fired head coach Dave Shula, Bruce Coslet led the Bengals to a come-from-behind victory against three future Hall of Famers. The Bengals intercepted Troy Aikman twice and held Emmitt Smith to 65 rushing yards, but Michael Irvin had a big game with nine catches for 117 yards. Corey Dillon offset Irvin’s effort with 127 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Boomer Esiason threw long touchdown passes to Darnay Scott and David Dunn.
Dec. 14, 1986 – Cleveland Browns 34, Cincinnati Bengals 3 at Riverfront Stadium.
A Bengals offense that had averaged 28.2 points in its previous six games was worthless on this chilly afternoon as the Browns scored their largest margin of victory in Battle of Ohio history (it would be topped with a 34-0 win the following year). Boomer Esiason completed 14 of 31 passes for 151 yards and threw two interceptions in a loss that ended up costing the Bengals a playoff berth despite a 10-6 finish. Kevin Mack scored two touchdowns for a Browns team that was on its way to winning its second of three consecutive AFC Central Division championships.
Dec. 14, 1980 – Cincinnati Bengals 17, Chicago Bears 14 OT at Soldier Field
Bengals cornerback Louis Breeden had three interceptions to tie the franchise record that still stands today, and Jim Breech kicked a 28-yard field goal in overtime to secure the win. Bears quarterback Vince Evans threw four interceptions in the game, with Ken Riley snagging the other one, and the Bengals held Walter Payton to just 78 rushing yards. The Cincinnati touchdowns came on a 1-yard run by Pete Johnson and a 7-yard pass from Jack Thompson to Isaac Curtis.
Dec. 14, 1974 – Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Cincinnati Bengals 3 at Three Rivers Stadium.
A once-promising season came to a gloomy end on a Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh as the Bengals dropped their third consecutive game to end the year 7-7. Despite the lopsided score, Cincinnati threw just eight passes in the game, with Wayne Clark completing only three of them. The Steelers would ride the momentum from the win into the postseason to win their first of six Super Bowls.
Dec. 14, 1969 – Denver Broncos 27, Cincinnati Bengals 16 at Mile High Stadium.
The Bengals dropped the season finale to finish the year winless in their last six games for a 4-9-1 record. Horst Muhlmann kicked three first-half field goals to give Cincinnati a 9-0 lead, but Broncos quarterback Pete Liske rallied his team with three touchdown passes.
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