1988 Cincinnati Bengals season

1988 Cincinnati Bengals season
Head coach	Sam Wyche
Home field	Riverfront Stadium
Results
Record	12–4
Division place	1st AFC Central
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoffs (Seahawks) 21–13 Won Conference Championship (Bills) 21–10 Lost Super Bowl XXIII (49ers) 20–16
← 1987 Bengals seasons 1989 →

1 2 3 4 Total • Bengals 3 21 14 7 45 Raiders 0 7 0 14 21 Date: October 2 Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 64°F, wind 10

Scoring summary 1 CIN Jim Breech 28 yard field goal Bengals 3–0 2 CIN Rodney Holman 14 yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 10–0 2 CIN Ickey Woods 3 yard run (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 17–0 2 LA Tim Brown 65 yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Chris Bahr kick) Bengals 17–7 2 CIN Tim McGee 9 yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 24–7 3 CIN Stanford Jennings 5 yard run (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 31–7 3 CIN Stanley Wilson 1 yard run (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 38–7 4 CIN Ira Hillary 15 yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 45–7 4 LA Jay Schroeder 5 yard run (Chris Bahr kick) Bengals 45–14 4 LA Mervyn Fernandez 24 yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Chris Bahr kick) Bengals 45–21

Scoring summary
1		CIN	Jim Breech 28 yard field goal	Bengals 3–0
2		CIN	Rodney Holman 14 yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 10–0
2		CIN	Ickey Woods 3 yard run (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 17–0
2		LA	Tim Brown 65 yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Chris Bahr kick)	Bengals 17–7
2		CIN	Tim McGee 9 yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 24–7
3		CIN	Stanford Jennings 5 yard run (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 31–7
3		CIN	Stanley Wilson 1 yard run (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 38–7
4		CIN	Ira Hillary 15 yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 45–7
4		LA	Jay Schroeder 5 yard run (Chris Bahr kick)	Bengals 45–14
4		LA	Mervyn Fernandez 24 yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Chris Bahr kick)	Bengals 45–21

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 7 0 0 7 14 • Bengals 14 7 14 7 42 Date: November 6 Location: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 37° F, wind 18 mph Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

Scoring summary 1 CIN Eddie Brown 86-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 7–0 1 PIT Bubby Brister 9-yard run (Gary Anderson kick) Tie 7–7 1 CIN Tim McGee 5-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 14–7 2 CIN James Brooks 3-yard run (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 21–7 3 CIN James Brooks 2-yard run (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 28–7 3 CIN Eddie Brown 6-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 35–7 4 CIN James Brooks 9-yard run (Jim Breech kick) Bengals 42–7

Scoring summary
1		CIN	Eddie Brown 86-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 7–0
1		PIT	Bubby Brister 9-yard run (Gary Anderson kick)	Tie 7–7
1		CIN	Tim McGee 5-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 14–7
2		CIN	James Brooks 3-yard run (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 21–7
3		CIN	James Brooks 2-yard run (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 28–7
3		CIN	Eddie Brown 6-yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 35–7
4		CIN	James Brooks 9-yard run (Jim Breech kick)	Bengals 42–7

1 2 3 4 Total Seahawks 0 0 0 13 13 • Bengals 7 14 0 0 21 Location: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 58,560 Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary Q1 CIN Stanley Wilson 3 yard run (Jim Breech kick) CIN 7–0 Q2 CIN Stanley Wilson 3 yard run (Jim Breech kick) CIN 14–0 Q2 CIN Ickey Woods 1 yard run (Jim Breech kick) CIN 21–0 Q4 SEA John L. Williams 7 yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick) CIN 21–7 Q4 SEA Dave Krieg 1 yard run (kick failed) CIN 21–13

Scoring summary
Q1		CIN	Stanley Wilson 3 yard run (Jim Breech kick)	CIN 7–0
Q2		CIN	Stanley Wilson 3 yard run (Jim Breech kick)	CIN 14–0
Q2		CIN	Ickey Woods 1 yard run (Jim Breech kick)	CIN 21–0
Q4		SEA	John L. Williams 7 yard pass from Dave Krieg (Norm Johnson kick)	CIN 21–7
Q4		SEA	Dave Krieg 1 yard run (kick failed)	CIN 21–13

1 2 3 4 Total Bills 0 10 0 0 10 • Bengals 7 7 0 7 21 Location: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati Game start: 12:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 59,747 Referee: Gene Barth TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary Q1 CIN Ickey Woods 1 yard run (Jim Breech kick) CIN 7–0 Q2 BUF Andre Reed 9 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 CIN James Brooks 10 yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick) CIN 14–7 Q2 BUF Scott Norwood 39 yard field goal CIN 14–10 Q4 CIN Ickey Woods 1 yard run (Jim Breech kick) CIN 21–10

Scoring summary
Q1		CIN	Ickey Woods 1 yard run (Jim Breech kick)	CIN 7–0
Q2		BUF	Andre Reed 9 yard pass from Jim Kelly (Scott Norwood kick)	Tie 7–7
Q2		CIN	James Brooks 10 yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick)	CIN 14–7
Q2		BUF	Scott Norwood 39 yard field goal	CIN 14–10
Q4		CIN	Ickey Woods 1 yard run (Jim Breech kick)	CIN 21–10

1 2 3 4 Total Bengals 0 3 10 3 16 • 49ers 3 0 3 14 20 Date: January 22 Location: Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary Q1 SF Mike Cofer 41 yard field goal SF 3–0 Q2 CIN Jim Breech 34 yard field goal Tie 3–3 Q3 CIN Jim Breech 43 yard field goal CIN 6–3 Q3 SF Mike Cofer 32 yard field goal Tie 6–6 Q3 CIN Stanford Jennings 93 yard kickoff return (Jim Breech kick) CIN 13–6 Q4 SF Jerry Rice 14 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) Tie 13–13 Q4 CIN Jim Breech 40 yard field goal CIN 16–13 Q4 SF John Taylor 10 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) SF 20–16

The 1988 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 21st year in professional football and its 19th with the National Football League.

After coming off a disappointing 1987 season, the Bengals tied for the best record in the NFL in 1988, secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and won the AFC Championship, appearing in Super Bowl XXIII.

The Bengals went 8-0 at home in 1988. On the road, the Bengals were 4-4.

The 1988 Bengals were featured in the NFL Films series The Missing Rings, being included as one of the five best teams in NFL history not to have won the Super Bowl.

During the strike-shortened 1987 season, quarterback Boomer Esiason and head coach Sam Wyche had openly feuded, and the team finished with a miserable 4–11 record. Esiason and Wyche worked out their differences in the off-season. In 1988 Esiason ended up having the best season of his career en route to Super Bowl XXIII. During the regular season, he threw for 3,572 yards and 28 touchdown passes with only 14 interceptions, while also rushing for 248 yards and a touchdown on 43 carries. Esiason's performance made him the top rated quarterback in the league with a 97.4 passer rating and earned him the NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

Cincinnati had a number of offensive weapons, boasting 6 Pro Bowl selections. Wide receiver Eddie Brown was the top receiver on the team, with 54 receptions for 1,273 yards and 9 touchdowns, setting franchise records for most receiving yards in season, highest yards per catch average in a season (24.0) and most receiving yards in a single game (216 against the Pittsburgh Steelers). Wide receiver Tim McGee and Pro Bowl tight end Rodney Holman were also major threats, combining for 75 receptions, 1,213 yards, and 9 touchdowns.

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