Cincinnati Bengals 1969 Record:       4 wins and 9 losses (1 tie)

The Bengals began the year with a successful draft by drafting two standouts Greg Cook and good old number 66 Linebacker Bill Bergy.  The 2nd year Cincinnati Bengals started the season very strong winning their first 3 games.  This included a 24-19 home win over the eventual Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The lost their next 4 games. In a huge upset in week 8, the Bengals surprised the NFL by beating the Oakland Raiders 31-17, handing the Raiders their only regular season loss. The following week the Bengals had a franchise first and only record set when they tied the playoff bound Oilers in Houston.  Horst Muhlmann’s 18 yard filed goal with twenty-two second left in the game sealed the tie.  It would be the Bengals one and only tie in franchise history. 

The team ended the season with 5 straight losses, and ended up in last place in the AFL West Division.  The Raider won the division that year, but they finally earned some respect with their 4-9-1 record.  Greg Cook was voted the Rookie of the Year.  He passed for 1,854 yards and had a 53.8% completion average.  He also managed to throw 15 touchdown passes.

One game does stand out that season.  The Bengals facing the Houston Oilers on November 9th, 1969 in the Astrodome was a one of a kind game in Cincinnati Bengal team history because neither team won the game.   It is the only game the Cincinnati Bengals played in that nobody won.  The Bengals and Oilers ended the game tied by sneaking up on the Oilers in the fourth quarter of the game.  The final score was Bengals 31 and the Oilers 31 after Cincinnati Bengals Kicker Horst Muhlmann hit a field goal from 18 yards out with 0:22 left in the fourth quarter. There were no overtime rules in the AFL for regular season overtime at that time so the game was left a tie.

Greg Cook would eventually go on to suffer a serious arm injury that would end his career way too early.  Bengals Middle Linebacker Bill Bergey would play additonal five seasons with the Bengals before he would attempt to leave for the World Football League only to be traded to the Eagles.  Burger would become a four time All Pro for the Eagles.

Scored 280 points (20.0/g), 6th of 10 in the AFL.
Allowed 367 points (26.2/g), 10th.
Differential of -87 points (-6.2/g), 8th.

(Coach Paul Brown awarded Coach of the Year)     
(Quarterback Greg Cooke is awarded the AFL Rookie of the Year Award)