2005 Cincinnati Bengals

2004 gave the Cincinnati Bengals their second straight .500 season, which kept them from the best picks in the draft but still allowed the Bengals to snag defensive end David Pollack from Georgia. With Carson Palmer at quarterback, the Bengals are ready to stop treading water and start their resurgence as a power in the NFL. The dark days of the previous few seasons are just a bad memory, and that is all the more reason to grab some Bengals tickets while you can.

The Bengals joined the American Football League (AFL) as an expansion team in 1968. The club was organized by Paul Brown, who as a coach had won three NFL titles with the Cleveland Browns during the 1950s. In the Bengals' first season, running back Paul Robinson led the AFL in rushing and was named rookie of the year.

Cincinnati joined the NFL in 1970 when the NFL and AFL completed their merger. The team won the AFC Central Division in its first NFL season, relying especially on an outstanding defense that starred cornerbacks Lemar Parrish and Ken Riley. In the playoffs the Bengals lost in the first round.

Brown guided the Bengals to postseason appearances again in 1973 and 1975, and Ken Anderson emerged as one of the NFL's finest quarterbacks. He won three consecutive passing titles from 1973 to 1975 with the help of wide receiver Isaac Curtis and tight end Bob Trumpy. Another favorite target of Anderson was running back Boobie Clark, the 1973 rookie of the year. Cincinnati lost in the first round of the playoffs in both 1973 and 1975.

Following several coaching changes and mixed results over the next few seasons, the Bengals won the division crown in 1981 under head coach Forrest Gregg, a former offensive tackle and a member of the Hall of Fame. Anderson won his fourth passing title, and running back Pete Johnson and rookie wide receiver Cris Collinsworth each gained more than 1,000 yards. In the playoffs, Cincinnati defeated the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, 26-21.

The Bengals remained competitive throughout the mid-1980s. Boomer Esiason replaced Anderson in 1985 and, like his predecessor, became one of the NFL's premier quarterbacks. Following a 4-11 win-loss record in 1987, Cincinnati finished the 1988 season with a 12-4 mark. Esiason won the first of his two NFC passing titles and shared player of the year honors with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham. Running back James Brooks, wide receiver Eddie Brown, and tackle Anthony Munoz also starred in the AFC's top-rated offense. In the playoffs the Bengals advanced to their second Super Bowl of the decade. Once there, however, Cincinnati again lost to the 49ers when San Francisco scored a last-minute touchdown.

In 1990 Cincinnati won its fifth division title. Esiason notched his sixth consecutive 3,000-yard season, a club record. The Bengals won a total of just 11 games from 1992 to 1994, and the team continued to struggle for much of the rest of the 1990s.

• 1982 Super Bowl XVI Lost to San Francisco 49ers, 26-21
• 1989 Super Bowl XXIII Lost to San Francisco 49ers, 20-16