Cincinnati Bengals Record 1988:  12 wins and 4 losses

The Bengals started the 1988 season off strong by winning their first 6 games. The Bengals led by NFL MVP Boomer Esiason, who passed for 3,572 yards.  The Bengals continued on to a 12-4 record.  Cincinnati Bengals gained home filed advantage in the playoffs and the AFC Central title.  A rookie Running Back out of Nevada-Las Vegas gave the Bengals a huge boost.  The Bengals new rookie Running Back was Ickey Woods.  Ickey immediately become a Bengals fan favorite when upon scoring his first touchdown, he broke out into a dance in the end zone.  The dance was not overly grace full or flashy and immediately became known as the “Ickey Shuffle”.   Woods ran for 1,066 yards scored 15 touchdowns.  Each TD was capped by his trademark dance  "The Ickey Shuffle”.  The 1988 season also introduced a new Bengals fan chant in the Divisional Playoffs.  The chant heard at Riverfront Stadium, "Who Dey, Who Dey, Who Dey think gonna beat Dem Bengals."   The phrase Whodey was born, and still lives on today as the Bengals fans number one cheer.  The Bengals first game of the playoffs as against the Seattle Seahawks.  The Bengals offensive line led by Anthony Munoz destroyed the Seattle Seahawks all game and the  Bengals found themselves in the AFC Championship for a second time with a 21-13 win. The Bengals run game was so dominating that Bengals Quarterback Boomer Esiason only needed to throw 7 passes, all of which he completed. The Bengals faced the Bills at sold out Riverfront Stadium.  The AFC Championship game was a battle all the way and was filled with a lot of tough physical play and actual on filed fights.  When the dust finally cleared the Bengals had won the game 21-10.  They were headed to the Super Bowl to face the San Francisco 49ers for a second time.

(Quarterback Boomer Esiason awarded the NFL MVP)

Super Bowl XXIII: The Bengals were back in the Super Bowl, and once again they were facing the San Francisco 49ers, in Miami, Florida. The Bengals luck turned cold the night before the Super Bowl when Bengals Running Back Stanley Wilson was found in his hotel room high on drugs.  Wilson had played a quite yet key role in the Bengals Offense all season as a blocking back for James Brooks and Ickey Woods.  The loss of Stanley Wilson would defiantly impact the Bengals in the Super Bowl.  The Bengals again suffered another huge setback early in the game when Nose Guard Tim Krumrie broke his leg in the 1st Quarter. However the Bengals defense would not quit, and the ended at halftime tied 3 to 3.  It was the first Super Bowl ever tied at halftime. The Bengals took the lead late the 3rd Quarter when Stanford Jennings took a 49ers kickoff and returned it for a touchdown.  This gave the Bengals a 4th Quarter 13-6 lead. After the 49ers tied the game at 13, the Bengals again moved on top of the 49ers with a Jim Breech FG. With 3:20 left in the game the Bengals only needed to stop the 49ers once to become the Super Bowl champs.  San Francisco lined up its offense led by Quarterback Joe Montana who proceeded to lead the 49ers on methodical 90-yard drive that ate the clock up.  Within Field Goal Range Montana hit John Taylor who had gotten by Lewis Billups in the end zone with 34 seconds left in the game.  The play broke Bengals fans hearts and became one of the most dramatic moments in Super Bowl history.  The game was touted as the greatest Super Bowl up to that time in the NFL’s history.  Boomer Esiason had been chosen as the games MVP, but lost that honor when the 49ers came back and scored to win the game in the last few seconds.  The Bengals have never made it back to the Super Bowl since the 1988 season. 

Scored 448 points (28.0/g), 1st of 28 in the NFL.
Allowed 329 points (20.6/g), 16th.
Differential of 119 points (7.4/g), 2nd.