The 1997 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 30th season in professional football and its 28th in the National Football League. After winning the first game of the season, the Bengals lost their next seven games to effectively end any playoff hopes. The struggles cost Jeff Blake his starting quarterback job, as former Bengal starting quarterback Boomer Esiason, who was reacquired in the off-season, came back in to lead the Bengals. With Esiason back under center the Bengals started to win as he connected on 13 touchdown passes, while giving up two interceptions. The Bengals won six of their final eight games, to finish with a 7âÂÂ9 record. Just as the Bengals were ready to give Esiason the job full-time, he got a lucrative offer from ABC-TV to do games on Monday Night Football. Since he would earn more money on ABC he decided to retire. Running back Corey Dillon set a rookie rushing record (since broken) for most yards in a game. On December 4, 1997, Dillon rushed for 246 yards in a game against the Tennessee Oilers.
For the season, the Bengals sported new uniforms and a new logo, which would remain until 2003. The new tiger head logo remains in use today. The team's 31âÂÂ26 win over the Jaguars, who went 11âÂÂ5, on November 23, was their only win against a team with a winning record from 1997 to 1999. They went 1âÂÂ6 against teams with a winning record.