2006 Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals had a much stronger season in 2005, as shown by their 11 and 5 win/loss record, not to mention the number of tickets they sold at Paul Brown Stadium, averaging almost 66,000 tickets per game. This placed them atop the AFC North and ensured a berth in the NFL Playoffs, although they did not make it past the Wildcard Weekend, thanks to division rival—and eventual Super Bowl champ—Pittsburgh.

Buy tickets to see the Bengals and you're bound to see some outstanding pro football. Unfortunately, some of it will be the play of their opponents as the Bengals go up against playoff contenders in eight of their 2006 games! Coach Marvin Lewis hopes to see Pro-Bowl QB Carson Palmer healthy and assisted by a terrific offensive line including Willie Anderson, Levi Jones, and Eric Steinbach.

Some Cincinnati Bengals history: The Bengals joined the American Football League (AFL) as an expansion team in 1968. Organized by Paul Brown, a coach who had won three NFL titles with the Cleveland Browns during the 1950s, the Bengals' first season featured rookie of the year Paul Robinson leading the AFL in rushing.

In 1970, when the NFL and AFL merged, the team won the AFC Central Division, relying on an outstanding defense that starred cornerbacks Lemar Parrish and Ken Riley.

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.

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 beat 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 he, too, 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. In the playoffs the Bengals advanced to their second Super Bowl of the decade. Once there, however, Cincinnati again lost to the 49ers (20-16) 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.