The 1968 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's inaugural season. Their head coach was Paul Brown, who left the Cleveland Browns following the 1962 season with National Football League (NFL) record of 115–49–6, seven conference titles, and three NFL championships. His son Mike Brown did a study on pro football expansion and recommended Cincinnati as a potential site. In 1965, Brown met with Governor of Ohio James Rhodes and the two agreed the state could accommodate a second pro football team. The team recorded its first win in franchise history in week 2 with a 24–10 victory over the Denver Broncos.

Timeline to establishment 1966 – Fearful the Cincinnati Reds baseball team would leave town and feeling pressure from local businessmen pushing for a pro football franchise, Cincinnati's city council approved the construction of Riverfront Stadium.

1967 – Brown's group was awarded an American Football League (AFL) expansion franchise. Brown named the team the Bengals, the name of Cincinnati's pro teams in the old AFL of the late 1930s. The Bengals acquired their first player late in the year when they traded two draft picks to Miami for quarterback John Stofa.

1968 preseason – The Bengals were awarded 40 veteran players in an expansion draft, held in mid-January 1968. In the 1968 NFL/AFL draft of college players, held in late January, they selected University of Tennessee center Bob Johnson as their first pick. The Bengals lost their first preseason game, 38–14, to the Kansas City Chiefs before 21,682 fans at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium.

1968 regular season – The Bengals upset the Denver Broncos, 24–10, and the Buffalo Bills, 34–23, in their first two regular-season home games. Halfback Paul Robinson led the AFL in rushing with 1,023 yards and was named Rookie of the Year.

Offseason

Common draft

Personnel Staff/Coaches 1968 Cincinnati Bengals staff Front office Owner/CEO & PRESIDENT - Paul Brown

Coaching Staff Head coach – Paul Brown

Offensive coaches Offensive line – Bill Johnson Offensive backs - Rick Forzano Receivers/offensive ends - Bill Walsh  Defensive coaches Defensive line - Jack Donaldson Defensive coordinator / defensive backs – Tom Bass Linebackers – Frank Smouse

Final roster

Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 3 Kansas City Chiefs L 14–38 0–1 Nippert Stadium 21,682 2 August 10 at Denver Broncos L 13–15 0–2 Denver University Stadium 13,841 3 August 17 Buffalo Bills L 6–10 0–3 Nippert Stadium 20,111 4 August 25 Pittsburgh Steelers W 19–3 1–3 Old Mountaineer Field 11,500 5 August 30 New York Jets W 13–9 2–3 Memphis Memorial Stadium 24,358

Regular season

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 at San Diego Chargers L 13–29 0–1 San Diego Stadium 33,687 Recap 2 September 15 Denver Broncos W 24–10 1–1 Nippert Stadium 25,049 Recap 3 September 22 Buffalo Bills W 34–23 2–1 Nippert Stadium 24,045 Recap 4 September 29 San Diego Chargers L 10–31 2–2 Nippert Stadium 28,642 Recap 5 October 6 at Denver Broncos L 7–10 2–3 Mile High Stadium 41,257 Recap 6 October 13 at Kansas City Chiefs L 3–13 2–4 Municipal Stadium 47,096 Recap 7 October 20 Miami Dolphins L 22–24 2–5 Nippert Stadium 25,942 Recap 8 October 27 at Oakland Raiders L 10–31 2–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 37,083 Recap 9 November 3 Houston Oilers L 17–27 2–7 Nippert Stadium 24,012 Recap 10 November 10 Kansas City Chiefs L 9–16 2–8 Nippert Stadium 25,537 Recap 11 November 17 at Miami Dolphins W 38–21 3–8 Miami Orange Bowl 31,747 Recap 12 November 24 Oakland Raiders L 0–34 3–9 Nippert Stadium 27,116 Recap 13 December 1 at Boston Patriots L 14–33 3–10 Fenway Park 17,796 Recap 14 December 8 at New York Jets L 14–27 3–11 Shea Stadium 61,111 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

Game summaries

Week 1 Friday September 6, 1968

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: Referee: TV announcers:

CINSDG CIN Paul Robinson 2-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 7 0 SDG Dennis Partee 42-yard field goal 7 3 SDG Dickie Post 48-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick) 7 10 CIN Dale Livingston 22-yard field goal 10 10 SDG Brad Hubbert 1-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick) 10 17 CIN Dale Livingston 35-yard field goal 13 17 SDG Willie Frazier 48-yard pass from John Hadl (kick failed) 13 23 SDG Willie Frazier 56-yard pass from John Hadl (kick failed) 13 29

CIN SDGFirst downs 13 27Rush-yards-TDs 30–122–1 33–229–2Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 14–26–125–0–1 20–37–325–2–0Sacked-yards 2–21 0–0Net pass yards 104 325Total yards 226 554Fumbles-lost 4–1 2–2Turnovers 2 2Penalties-yards 5–56 10–100

Week 2 Sunday September 15

Week 2 1234Final Denver Broncos (0–1–0)003710 Cincinnati Bengals (1–1–0)0 0 10 14 24

DEN CIN CIN Dale Livingston 49-yard field goal 0 3 CIN Bob Trumpy 58-yard pass from John Stofa (Dale Livingston kick) 0 10 DEN Bob Humphreys 33-yard field goal 3 10 DEN Eric Crabtree 5-yard pass from Jim M. LeClair (Bob Humphreys kick) 10 10 CIN Warren McVea 54-yard pass from John Stofa (Dale Livingston kick) 10 17 CIN Essex Johnson 35-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 10 24 DEN CIN First downs 15 11 Rush-yards-TDs 25–78–0 27–104–1 Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 14–33–171–1–1 12–22–224–2–0 Sacked-yards 4–50 3–39 Net pass yards 121 185 Total yards 199 289 Fumbles-lost 2–0 1–0 Turnovers 1 0 Penalties-yards 2–15 2–24

Week 3 Sunday September 22 Week 3 1234FinalBuffalo Bills (0–3–0) 0 7 7 9 23Cincinnati Bengals (2–1–0) 10 0 10 14 34 BUF CINCIN Dale Livingston 11-yard field goal 0 3CIN Warren McVea 80-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 0 10BUF Max Anderson 14-yard rush (Mike Mercer kick) 7 10BUF Gary McDermott 5-yard rush (Mike Mercer kick) 14 10CIN Dale Livingston 39-yard field goal 14 13CIN Charlie King 32-yard interception return (Dale Livingston kick) 14 20CIN Al Beauchamp 17-yard interception return (Dale Livingston kick) 14 27BUF Max Anderson 100-yard kickoff return (Mike Mercer kick) 21 27BUF Safety, Robinson tackled in end zone 23 27CIN Tommie Smiley 1-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 23 34

BUF CINFirst downs 17 9Rush-yards-TDs 24–92–2 29–149–2Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 15–36–160–0–2 8–18–68–0–1Sacked-yards 5–37 2–16Net pass yards 123 52Total yards 215 201Fumbles-lost 1–0 2–1Turnovers 2 2Penalties-yards 5–65 6–34

Week 4 Sunday September 29 Week 4 1234Final San Diego Chargers (3–0–0) 0 17 0 14 31Cincinnati Bengals (2–2–0) 3 0 7 0 10 SDG CINCIN Dale Livingston 21-yard field goal 0 3SDG Gary Garrison 10-yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick) 7 3SDG Dennis Partee 21-yard field goal 10 3SDG Gary Garrison 19-yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick) 17 3CIN Essex Johnson 6-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 17 10SDG John Hadl 2-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick) 24 10SDG John Hadl 1-yard rush (Dennis Partee kick) 31 10

SDG CINFirst downs 18 14Rush-yards-TDs 37–101–2 25–66–1Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 11–24–215–2–1 17–29–153–0–2Sacked-yards 1–14 3–24Net pass yards 201 129Total yards 302 195Fumbles-lost 0–0 0–0Turnovers 1 2Penalties-yards 6–51 8–90

Week 5 Sunday October 6 Week 5 1234Final Cincinnati Bengals (2–3–0) 0 7 0 0 7 Denver Broncos (1–3–0) 0 0 3 7 10 CIN DEN CIN Bobby Hunt 5-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 7 0 DEN Bobby Howfield 34-yard field goal 7 3 DEN Mike Haffner 4-yard pass from Steve Tensi (Bobby Howfield kick) 7 10 CIN DENFirst downs 15 11Rush-yards-TDs 37–111–1 23–99–0Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 15–38–139–0–0 14–34–125–1–0Sacked-yards 1–3 2–13Net pass yards 136 112Total yards 247 211Fumbles-lost 3–1 1–0Turnovers 1 0Penalties-yards 5–49 3–28

Week 6 Sunday October 13 Week 6 1234Final Cincinnati Bengals (2–4–0) 0 0 3 0 3 Kansas City Chiefs (5–1–0) 0 3 3 7 13 CIN KANKAN Jan Stenerud 52-yard field goal 0 3CIN Dale Livingston 15-yard field goal 3 3KAN Jan Stenerud 46-yard field goal 3 6KAN Robert Holmes 1-yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) 3 13

CIN KANFirst downs 7 15Rush-yards-TDs 28–99–0 40–136–1Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 7–19–48–0–1 11–17–152–0–1Sacked-yards 3–31 3–23Net pass yards 17 129Total yards 116 265Fumbles-lost 1–0 2–1Turnovers 1 2Penalties-yards 3–25 5–42

Week 7 Sunday October 20 Week 7 1234Final Miami Dolphins (2–3–1) 10 0 0 14 24 Cincinnati Bengals (2–5–0) 0 2 14 6 22 MIA CINMIA Jimmy Keyes 26-yard field goal 3 0MIA Karl Noonan 2-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) 10 0CIN Safety, Gunner tackled Griese in end zone 10 2CIN Essex Johnson 41-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 10 9CIN Paul Robinson 1-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 10 16MIA Karl Noonan 20-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) 17 16MIA Stan Mitchell 31-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) 24 16CIN Bob Trumpy 45-yard pass from Dewey Warren (pass failed) 24 22 MIA CINFirst downs 21 14Rush-yards-TDs 38–139–0 30–143–2Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 16–29–186–3–0 14–21–184–1–1Sacked-yards 4–29 0–0Net pass yards 157 184Total yards 296 327Fumbles-lost 1–0 3–2Turnovers 0 3Penalties-yards 2–11 2–10

Week 8 Sunday October 28 Week 8 1234Final Cincinnati Bengals (2–6–0) 0 7 3 0 10 Oakland Raiders (5–2–0) 7 7 14 3 31 CIN OAKOAK Fred Biletnikoff 14-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick) 0 7OAK Roger Hagberg 7-yard rush (George Blanda kick) 0 14CIN Paul Robinson 87-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 7 14OAK Fred Biletnikoff 12-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick) 7 21CIN Dale Livingston 37-yard field goal 10 21OAK Roger Hagberg 7-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick) 10 28OAK George Blanda 48-yard field goal 10 31 CIN OAKFirst downs 8 26Rush-yards-TDs 28–169–1 42–265–1Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 11–19–95–0–1 17–34–205–3–1Sacked-yards 7–36 4–31Net pass yards 59 174Total yards 228 439Fumbles-lost 3–1 2–2Turnovers 2 3Penalties-yards 6–90 5–78

Week 9 Sunday November 3 Week 9 1234FinalHouston Oilers (4–5–0) 10 7 7 3 27Cincinnati Bengals (2–7–0) 0 3 7 7 17 HOU CINHOU Wayne Walker 27-yard field goal 3 0HOU Alvin Reed 5-yard pass from Don Trull (Wayne Walker kick) 10 0CIN Dale Livingston 28-yard field goal 10 3HOU Hoyle Granger 1-yard rush (Wayne Walker kick) 17 3CIN Paul Robinson 4-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 17 10HOU Mac Haik 10-yard pass from Don Trull (Wayne Walker kick) 24 10HOU Wayne Walker 41-yard field goal 27 10CIN Paul Robinson 68-yard pass from Sam Wyche (Dale Livingston kick) 27 17 HOU CINFirst downs 21 21Rush-yards-TDs 37–159–1 26–179–1Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 14–23–212–2–0 20–25–228–1–0Sacked-yards 1–10 5–33Net pass yards 202 195Total yards 361 374Fumbles-lost 1–0 1–0Turnovers 0 0Penalties-yards 3–35 4–45

Week 10 Sunday November 10 Week 10 1234FinalKansas City Chiefs (8–2–0) 3 3 0 10 16Cincinnati Bengals (2–8–0) 0 3 6 0 9 KAN CINKAN Jan Stenerud 30-yard field goal 3 0CIN Dale Livingston 29-yard field goal 3 3KAN Jan Stenerud 11-yard field goal 6 3CIN Dale Livingston 16-yard field goal 6 6CIN Dale Livingston 23-yard field goal 6 9KAN Jan Stenerud 17-yard field goal 9 9KAN Robert Holmes 27-yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) 16 9 KAN CINFirst downs 16 15Rush-yards-TDs 39–255–1 30–157–0Comp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 5–15–62–0–1 12–21–161–0–2Sacked-yards 1–13 6–35Net pass yards 49 126Total yards 304 283Fumbles-lost 0–0 0–0Turnovers 1 2Penalties-yards 4–45 3–44

Week 11 Sunday, November 17

Week 11 1234FinalCincinnati Bengals (3–8–0) 0 17 0 21 38Miami Dolphins (3–6–1) 7 0 14 0 21 CIN MIAMIA Stan Mitchell 48-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) 0 7CIN Bob Trumpy 80-yard pass from Sam Wyche (Dale Livingston kick) 7 7CIN Dale Livingston 12-yard field goal 10 7CIN Paul Robinson 54-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 17 7MIA Karl Noonan 7-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) 17 14MIA Stan Mitchell 38-yard pass from Bob Griese (Jimmy Keyes kick) 17 21CIN Warren McVea 55-yard pass from John Stofa (Dale Livingston kick) 24 21CIN Paul Robinson 15-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 31 21CIN Paul Robinson 5-yard rush (Dale Livingston kick) 38 21