2009 Cincinnati Bengals season
| 2009 Cincinnati Bengals season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Marvin Lewis |
| Owner | Mike Brown |
| Home field | Paul Brown Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 10–6 |
| Division place | 1st AFC North |
| Playoff finish | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 24–14 |
| Pro Bowlers | WR Chad Ochocinco |
| AP All-Pros | Leon Hall (2nd team) |
| Uniform | |
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The 2009 Cincinnati Bengals season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League and their 42nd overall. They finished the season at 10–6–0, and sweeping the entire AFC North division, they improved on their 2008 record of 4–11–1, winning the AFC North Division and making the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Their season ended with a 24–14 loss against the New York Jets in the AFC Wild Card Playoff Round.
The head coach was Marvin Lewis, who has coached the team since 2003. He was chosen by the Associated Press as its NFL Coach of the Year following the season. Lewis was recognized for turning around the Bengals in the face of serious off-the-field adversity. First, three players were personally affected by the tsunami that hit American Samoa in late September. Shortly after this disaster, Vikki Zimmer, the wife of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, unexpectedly died. Finally, wide receiver Chris Henry, who suffered a season-ending injury in Week 9, died in December from injuries suffered when he fell from the back of a pickup truck during a domestic dispute.
The following players who were on the Bengals' 2008 roster were eligible for free agency in 2009 or have been released by the team. A green background indicates that the player re-signed with the Bengals.
The Bengals began their season in a Week 1 duel with the Denver Broncos. Both teams' defense held each other in check, while Broncos kicker Matt Prater got a 48-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 50-yard field goal in the third. WR Brandon Stokley grabbed a deflected pass and raced into the end zone for an improbable 87-yard touchdown reception in the final seconds. This came after the Bengals scored a go-ahead touchdown on RB Cedric Benson's 1-yard plunge with 38 seconds remaining. QB Carson Palmer had one last effort on the final play of the game, but his desperation pass was intercepted. With the loss, Cincinnati started the season at 0–1.
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