The 2017 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 48th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 50th overall and their 15th under head coach Marvin Lewis. After starting 0âÂÂ2, scoring only 9 points, and not scoring any touchdowns in their first two games, the Bengals fired offensive coordinator Ken Zampese. Quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor was promoted to offensive coordinator to replace Zampese. The Bengals suffered back to back losing seasons for the first time since 2007âÂÂ2008. However, the Bengals were able to knock off two teams contending for the playoffs at the end of their season, the Detroit Lions in Week 16, and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17 which allowed the Buffalo Bills reach the postseason for the first time since 1999.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
The Bengals started the season at home against the Ravens. In the first quarter, the Ravens scored as Justin Tucker kicked a 25-yard field goal to make it 3âÂÂ0. They would increase their lead in the second quarter when Joe Flacco found Jeremy Maclin on a 48-yard pass to make it 10âÂÂ0. This would be followed up by a 2-yard touchdown run by Terrence West to make the score 17âÂÂ0 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Ravens would go back to work with Tucker kicking yet another 25-yard field goal to make the score 20âÂÂ0. A scoreless fourth quarter made this the eventual final score of the game.
With the loss, the Bengals started their season 0âÂÂ1. This is the team's first shut-out loss at home since 2001.
Andy Dalton set a new career high for total turnovers in a game with 5 (4 interceptions, 1 lost fumble)
The Bengals stayed home for a Thursday Night duel against the Texans. In the first quarter the Texans jumped out to an early lead when Kaûimi Fairbairn kicked a 26-yard field goal to make it 3âÂÂ0. The Bengals tied it up in the second quarter when Randy Bullock kicked a 39-yard field goal to make it 3âÂÂ3. Though the Texans would then retake the lead when DeShaun Watson ran for a 49-yard touchdown to make it 10âÂÂ3. Bullock closed out the first half scoring with a 29-yard field goal to make it 10âÂÂ6 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Bengals went back to work when Bullock kicked a 30-yard field goal to get his team within a point making the score 10âÂÂ9. In the fourth quarter, the Texans moved ahead by 4 after Fairbairn kicked a 42-yard field goal to make it 13âÂÂ9. The Bengals tried to come back with seconds left but after a failed fourth down conversion attempt, the Texans were able to seal the victory.
With the loss, the Bengals dropped to 0âÂÂ2. This would be the team's first 0âÂÂ2 start since 2008. They are also the first team to open a season with two home games without scoring a touchdown since the 1939 Eagles.
The Bengals traveled Lambeau Field to take on the Packers. In the first quarter, the Bengals scored first when Andy Dalton found A. J. Green on a 10-yard pass to make it 7âÂÂ0. Though the Packers would respond by tying the game up at 7âÂÂ7 when Aaron Rodgers found Lance Kendricks on a 1-yard pass. In the second quarter, it was all Bengals when Dalton found Giovani Bernard on a 6-yard pass to make it 14âÂÂ7. This would be followed up by Cornerback William Jackson III intercepting Rodgers and returning it 75 yards for a touchdown to make it 21âÂÂ7 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Packers got to work as Rodgers would find Jordy Nelson on a 1-yard pass to make it 21âÂÂ14. They would draw closer in the fourth quarter after Mason Crosby kicked a 28-yard field goal to make it 21âÂÂ17. The Bengals then moved ahead by a touchdown again after Randy Bullock kicked a 46-yard field goal to make it 24âÂÂ17. However, the Packers tied it up later on when Rodgers and Nelson connected again this time on a 3-yard pass to make it 24âÂÂ24. In overtime, the Bengals won the toss but went three-and-out. After the Packers got the ball, Rodgers found Geronimo Allison on a 72-yard pass that set up Mason Crosby's game-winning field goal from 27 yards out to make the final score 27âÂÂ24.
With the loss, the Bengals fell to 0âÂÂ3. The team would face their first 0âÂÂ3 start since 2008.
After a tough loss, the Bengals traveled to Cleveland to take on the Browns in Round 1 of Battle of Ohio. After a scoreless first quarter, the Bengals got to work in the second quarter when Andy Dalton found A. J. Green on a 7-yard pass to make the score 7âÂÂ0. Dalton would then find Tyler Kroft on a 3-yard pass to make it 14âÂÂ0. Then Dalton would find Giovani Bernard on a 61-yard pass to make it 21âÂÂ0 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Bengals increased their lead when Randy Bullock nailed a 41-yard field goal to make it 24âÂÂ0. This would be followed by Dalton's fourth touchdown pass of the day as he found Kroft again this time on a 16-yard pass to make it 31âÂÂ0. In the fourth quarter, the Browns got the final points of the game when Duke Johnson ran for a 1-yard touchdown making the final score 31âÂÂ7.
With the win, the Bengals improved to 1âÂÂ3.
After a huge road win, the Bengals returned home for a game against the Bills. The Bengals would draw first blood in the first quarter when Andy Dalton found A. J. Green on a 77-yard pass to make it 7âÂÂ0. The Bills scored a field goal later on in the quarter when Stephen Hauschka kicked a 31-yard field goal to make it 7-3. The Bengals moved up by a touchdown in the second quarter when Randy Bullock nailed a 30-yard field goal to make it 10âÂÂ3. Though the Bills would tie it up later on in the quarter when Tyrod Taylor connected with Brandon Tate for a 12-yard pass making the score 10âÂÂ10 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Bills moved into the lead with another field goal from Hauschka. This was from 38 yards out to make the score 13âÂÂ10. In the fourth quarter, the Bengals retook the lead when Joe Mixon ran for a 5-yard touchdown making it 17âÂÂ13. Hauschka got the Bills closer with a 28-yard field goal to make it 17âÂÂ16. Though later on, Bullock kicked a 29-yard field goal making the score 20âÂÂ16. This would be the eventual final score of the game.
With the win, the Bengals went into their bye week at 2âÂÂ3.
Coming off their bye week, the Bengals traveled to Pittsburgh for Game 1 against the division rival Steelers. The Steelers would score first when Ben Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 7-yard pass to make it 7âÂÂ0. Though later on in the quarter, the Bengals would tie it up when Andy Dalton found Brandon LaFell on a 6-yard pass to make it a 7âÂÂ7 game. In the second quarter, the Steelers moved back into the lead when Roethlisberger found JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 31-yard pass to make it 14âÂÂ7. But the Bengals tied it up again when Dalton found Tyler Kroft on a 1-yard pass making it 14âÂÂ14. The Steelers closed the half with 2 field goals kicked by Chris Boswell: From 22 and 24 yards out to retake the lead 17âÂÂ14 and then make it 20âÂÂ14 at halftime. In the highly defensive second half, the Steelers managed to score more field goals starting in the third quarter when Boswell went for 2 more: From 41 and 49 yards out to increase the Steelers' lead from 9 to 12 and making the score change from 23âÂÂ14 to 26âÂÂ14. In the last quarter, the Steelers would pretty much seal the game when Boswell hit his fifth field goal of the game from 29-yards out to make the final score 29âÂÂ14.
With their fifth straight loss to the Steelers, the Bengals dropped to 2âÂÂ4.
After a tough loss, the Bengals returned home for a game against the Colts. The Bengals jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter when Randy Bullock kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 3âÂÂ0. This would be the only score of the quarter. In the second quarter the Colts scored 10 unanswered points and took the lead when at first they would tie it up with Adam Vinatieri's 29-yard field goal to make it 3âÂÂ3 followed up by Jacoby Brissett finding Jack Doyle on a 13-yard pass to make it 10âÂÂ3. The Bengals tied it up later on in the quarter when Andy Dalton found A. J. Green on an 8-yard pass to make it 10âÂÂ10. But the Colts would move ahead at halftime with Vinatieri finishing up with a 33-yard field goal to make it 13âÂÂ10. In the third quarter, the Bengals retook the lead 17âÂÂ13 when Dalton found Josh Malone on a 25-yard pass. Though the Colts took the lead back afterwards when Brissett found Marlon Mack on a 24-yard pass making it 20âÂÂ17. In the fourth quarter, the Colts increased their lead when Vinatieri kicked yet another 29-yard field goal to make it 23âÂÂ17. Though the Bengals would eventually seal the victory when Brissett was intercepted by Carlos Dunlap and it was returned for a 16-yard touchdown to make the final score 24âÂÂ23.
With the win, the Bengals improved to 3âÂÂ4.
After winning at home, the Bengals traveled down south to take on the Jaguars. The Jags scored first in the first quarter when Josh Lambo kicked a 32-yard field goal to make it 3âÂÂ0. They would make it 10âÂÂ0 in the second quarter when Blake Bortles found Marqise Lee on a 3-yard pass. The Bengals got on the board coming within 3 as Joe Mixon ran for a 7-yard touchdown making the score 10âÂÂ7. However, the Jags pulled away with Lambo's 56-yard field goal to make it 13âÂÂ7 at halftime. In the second half it was all Jags as they scored in the third quarter with Lambo hitting his third field goal of the day from 25 yards out to make it 16âÂÂ7. In the fourth quarter, they would wrap up the scoring of the game with Jaydon Mickens 63-yard punt return for a touchdown and the final score 23âÂÂ7.
With the loss, the Bengals fell to 3âÂÂ5.
The game was notable seeing A. J. Green getting ejected in the second quarter after fighting with Jacksonville's Jalen Ramsey, who was also ejected.
After a tough loss, the Bengals traveled further north to take on the Titans. The Titans drew first blood in the first quarter when DeMarco Murray ran for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 7âÂÂ0. The Bengals then got on the board when Andy Dalton found Brandon LaFell on a 37-yard pass (with a failed PAT) to make it 7âÂÂ6. The Titans managed to pull away in the second quarter when Murray ran for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 14âÂÂ6. The Bengals came within 1 again when Joe Mixon ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 14âÂÂ13. The Titans then closed out the half with Ryan Succop's 44-yard field goal to make it 17âÂÂ13 at halftime. After a scoreless third quarter, the Bengals took the lead in the fourth quarter when Dalton found A. J. Green on a 70-yard pass to make it 20âÂÂ17. Though the Titans were able to complete the comeback when Murray ran for his third touchdown of the day: From 7 yards out to make it 24âÂÂ20 sealing the win.
With the loss, the Bengals fell to 3âÂÂ6.
After a tough road loss, the Bengals traveled west to take on the Broncos. In the first quarter, they would score first when Andy Dalton found Tyler Kroft on a 1-yard pass (with a failed PAT) to make it 6âÂÂ0. The Broncos then took the lead when C.J. Anderson ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 7âÂÂ6. In the second quarter, the Bengals moved back into the lead when Dalton found Alex Erickson on a 29-yard pass to make it 13âÂÂ7 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Broncos came within 3 when Brandon McManus kicked a 45-yard field goal to make it 13âÂÂ10. Though in the fourth quarter, the Bengals moved up by double digits when Dalton found A. J. Green on an 18-yard pass to make it 20âÂÂ10. The Broncos then concluded the scoring of the game when Brock Osweiler found Demaryius Thomas on a 17-yard pass to make the final score 20âÂÂ17.
With the win, the Bengals improved to 4âÂÂ6. The team also won against the Broncos in Denver for the first time since 1975.
After winning on the road, the Bengals returned home for Game 2 of the Battle of Ohio. In the first quarter, the Browns took an early lead when Zane Gonzalez kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 3âÂÂ0. Though the Bengals took the lead when Andy Dalton found Tyler Boyd on an 8-yard pass to make it 7âÂÂ3. In the second quarter, the Bengals increased their lead with 3 straight field goals kicked by Randy Bullock: From 31, 49, and 21 yards out to make the score 10âÂÂ3, 13âÂÂ3, and 16âÂÂ3. Gonzalez managed to get the Browns closer with a 21-yard field goal of his own to make it 16âÂÂ6 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Bengals pulled away as Dalton found Tyler Kroft on a 1-yard pass to make it 23âÂÂ6. Gonzalez managed to put to get the Browns within 2 touchdowns when he kicked his third field goal of the game: from 39 yards out to make it 23âÂÂ9. The Browns came within a touchdown when DeShone Kizer ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 23âÂÂ16. However, the Bengals sealed the game when Joe Mixon ran for an 11-yard touchdown to make the final score 30âÂÂ16.
Against the Browns, Joe Mixon had a career day, rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown, the first 100-yard game of his young career. With the win and 7th straight over the Browns, the Bengals went to 5âÂÂ6.
After winning on the road, the Bengals returned home for Game 2 against the Steelers. The Bengals scored first in the first quarter when Randy Bullock kicked a 35-yard field goal to make it 3âÂÂ0. They would make it 10âÂÂ0 later on in the quarter when Andy Dalton found A. J. Green on an 8-yard pass. In the second quarter, the Bengals scored again when Dalton found Green again on a 15-yard pass to make it 17âÂÂ0. The Steelers got their only points of the first half when Chris Boswell kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 17âÂÂ3 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Steelers were able to come within a touchdown when Ben Roethlisberger found Le'Veon Bell on a 35-yard pass to make it 17âÂÂ10. However, the Bengals moved back ahead by double digits when Bullock kicked a 41-yard field goal to make it 20âÂÂ10. In the fourth quarter, it was all Steelers when Boswell kicked a 37-yard field goal to make the score 20âÂÂ13. This would be followed up by tying the game at 20âÂÂ20 when Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 6-yard pass. Finally, the Steelers were able to seal the victory with seconds left when Boswell kicked the game-winning 38-yard field goal to make the final score 23âÂÂ20.
With their 6th straight loss to the Steelers, the Bengals fell to 5âÂÂ7.
After a tough loss at home, the Bengals would remain at home for a game against the Bears. In the first quarter, the Bears took an early lead when Jordan Howard ran for a 21-yard touchdown (with a failed PAT) to make it 6âÂÂ0. The Bengals however took the lead later on in the quarter when Andy Dalton found Brandon LaFell on a 14-yard pass to make it 7âÂÂ6. The Bears retook the lead in the second quarter when Mike Nugent kicked 2 field goals: From 34 and 27 yards out to make it 9âÂÂ7 and then 12âÂÂ7 at halftime. The Bears then shut out the Bengals the entire second half while they score themselves: In the third quarter Mitchell Trubisky ran for a 4-yard touchdown to make it 19âÂÂ7 for the only score of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, they wrapped up the scoring when Trubisky found Adam Shaheen on a 1-yard pass to make it 26âÂÂ7. Howard then ran for an 8-yard touchdown to make the final score 33âÂÂ7.
With the loss, the Bengals dropped to 5âÂÂ8. The team is also assured their second straight non-winning season.
The Bengals traveled to Minneapolis to take on the Vikings. The Vikes dominated the majority of the game starting in the first quarter when they scored 3 times: Latavius Murray ran for a 1-yard touchdown, Eric Kendricks intercepted Andy Dalton and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown, and then Kai Forbath kicked a 53-yard field goal to make it 17âÂÂ0. They made it 24âÂÂ0 in the second quarter before halftime when Case Keenum found Stefon Diggs on a 20-yard pass. In the third quarter, Forbath put a 35-yard field goal through to make it 27âÂÂ0 for the only score. This would be followed up by Keenum finding Kyle Rudolph in the fourth quarter to make it 34âÂÂ0. The Bengals score the last points of the game when Giovani Bernard ran for a 7-yard touchdown to make the final score 34âÂÂ7.
With the loss, the Bengals dropped to 5âÂÂ9. The team would have consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 2007 and 2008. Andy Dalton also tied his career-high for most games started and lost in a single season.
After yet another blowout loss, the Bengals returned home to take on the Lions. In the first quarter, the Lions scored when Matthew Stafford found Eric Ebron on a 33-yard pass to make it 7âÂÂ0. The Bengals scored 2 field goals in the second quarter: Randy Bullock got them from 29 and 27 yards out to make the score 7âÂÂ3 and then 7âÂÂ6 at halftime. In the third quarter, Matt Prater put the Lions up by 4 with a 23-yard field goal to make it 10âÂÂ6. The Bengals however took the lead later on when Andy Dalton found C.J. Uzomah on a 1-yard pass to make it 13âÂÂ10. Bullock then put a 35-yard field goal through to make it 16âÂÂ10. The Lions retook the lead when Tion Green ran for a 5-yard touchdown to make it 17âÂÂ16. Though, the Bengals were able to score twice to seal the game: Bullock kicked a 51-yard field goal to make it 19âÂÂ17. This would be followed by Giovani Bernard running for a 12-yard touchdown to make the final score 26âÂÂ17.
With the win, the Bengals would improve to 6âÂÂ9 and would knock the Detroit Lions out of the postseason.
The Bengals then closed out the regular season with Game 2 against the Ravens. In the first quarter, the Bengals scored when Andy Dalton found Tyler Kroft on a 1-yard pass to make it 7âÂÂ0 for the only score. The Ravens got on the board in the second quarter when Justin Tucker nailed a 46-yard field goal to make it 7âÂÂ3. However, Dalton and Kroft connected again on a 5-yard pass to make it 14âÂÂ3. This would be followed up by Randy Bullock kicking a 32-yard field goal to make it 17âÂÂ3 in favor of the Bengals. The Ravens then closed out the half when Joe Flacco found Chris Moore on a 6-yard pass to make the halftime score 17âÂÂ10. In the third quarter, the Bengals moved back ahead by double digits when Darqueze Dennard returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown to make it 24âÂÂ10. Though, the Ravens reduced that lead again when Alex Collins ran for a 17-yard touchdown to make it 24âÂÂ17. In the fourth quarter, the Ravens managed to take the lead when Tucker kicked a 34-yard field goal to make it 24âÂÂ20 followed up by Flacco connecting with Mike Wallace on a 6-yard pass to make it 27âÂÂ24. Though, the Bengals were able to complete the comeback when Dalton found Tyler Boyd on a 49-yard pass to make the final score 31âÂÂ27.
The Bengals spoiled their division rival's playoff hopes thanks to a late Andy Dalton touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd. Due to the tiebreakers, and after a 4th down pass from Flacco to Wallace fell a few yards short of converting to a first down, the win also allowed the Buffalo Bills to end their 17-year postseason drought, as they would qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
Thanks to the Bengals' victory, thousands of grateful Bills fans donated money to Dalton's personal charity. Most of the donations were in $17 increments in honor of the Bills breaking their 17-year playoff drought. Over 11,000 people donated a combined over $250,000 to the Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation, while Tyler Boyd's charity of choice, the Western Pennsylvania Youth Athletic Association, received $50,000 in donations from Bills fans. Relatedly, the Bills organization announced that they were sending Buffalo wings from Duff's Famous Wings to the Bengals organization, where they were consumed by residents of The Children's Home of Cincinnati.
The team finished 7âÂÂ9.