The 2021 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 52nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 54th overall and their third under head coach Zac Taylor. They also played in new uniforms for the first time since 2004. The Bengals finished with a 10–7 record, exceeding their win total from the previous two seasons combined. The Bengals clinched their first winning season, first playoff appearance, and first AFC North title since 2015. It also marked their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988.
The Bengals began their playoff run by defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 26–19 in the wild-card round, winning their first playoff game since 1990, and ending what was the NFL's longest playoff win drought. They beat the top-seeded Tennessee Titans 19–16 in the divisional round, which not only marked their first-ever playoff win on the road but also allowed them to advance to the AFC Championship game for the first time since 1988. They defeated the second-seeded Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in overtime. As a result, they advanced to Super Bowl LVI, their third Super Bowl in franchise history and first in 33 years. Quarterback Joe Burrow became the first second-year quarterback since Russell Wilson in 2013 to reach a Super Bowl, and the first No. 1-picked QB to do so within their first two seasons. However, the Bengals lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl 23–20.
For the first time since 2010, A. J. Green was not on the opening day roster.
Offseason
Free agents
Unrestricted Position Player 2021 Team Date signed Contract CB Mackensie Alexander Minnesota Vikings March 26 1 year, $1.127 million QB Brandon Allen Cincinnati Bengals March 10 1 year, $1.5 million K Randy Bullock Detroit Lions March 18 1 year, $1.5 million MLB Josh Bynes Carolina Panthers August 11 1 year, $850k TE Cethan Carter Miami Dolphins March 15 3 years, $7.8 million DT Christian Covington Los Angeles Chargers May 10 1 year, $990k DT Mike Daniels Cincinnati Bengals March 31 1 year, $2.5 million WR Alex Erickson Houston Texans March 18 1 year, $1.2 million OLB Jordan Evans Cincinnati Bengals March 28 1 year, $1.127 million WR A. J. Green Arizona Cardinals March 17 1 year, $8 million LS Clark Harris Cincinnati Bengals March 3 1 year, $1.2 million P Kevin Huber Cincinnati Bengals March 22 1 year, $1.637 million DE Margus Hunt Arizona Cardinals August 11 1 year, $1.075 million CB William Jackson III Washington Football Team March 16 3 years, $42 million DE Carl Lawson New York Jets March 15 3 years, $45 million RB Samaje Perine Cincinnati Bengals March 17 2 years, $3.3 million G Alex Redmond New England Patriots May 17 1 year, $1.080 million WR John Ross New York Giants March 16 1 year, $2.5 million CB LeShaun Sims G Quinton Spain Cincinnati Bengals March 23 1 year, $1.127 million WR Mike Thomas Cincinnati Bengals March 18 1 year, $1.015 million S Shawn Williams Arizona Cardinals March 29 1 year, $1.075 million DT Xavier Williams Arizona Cardinals June 7 1 year, $990k FS Brandon Wilson Cincinnati Bengals March 16 2 years, $4.625 million
Restricted Position Player 2021 Team Date signed Contract CB Tony Brown Cincinnati Bengals March 17 1 year, $920k
Exclusive rights Position Player 2021 Team Date signed Contract DE Amani Bledsoe Cincinnati Bengals March 31 1 year, $780k CB Jalen Davis Cincinnati Bengals March 3 1 year, $850k
Signings Position Player 2020 team Date signed Contract DE Trey Hendrickson New Orleans Saints March 15 4 years, $60 million CB Chidobe Awuzie Dallas Cowboys March 16 3 years, $21.75 million CB Mike Hilton Pittsburgh Steelers March 16 4 years, $24 million DT Larry Ogunjobi Cleveland Browns March 17 1 year, $6.2 million OT Riley Reiff Minnesota Vikings March 19 1 year, $7.5 million CB Eli Apple Carolina Panthers March 23 1 year, $1.2 million S Ricardo Allen Atlanta Falcons March 24 1 year, $1.49 million TE Thaddeus Moss Washington Football Team April 12 1 year, $660k WR Trent Taylor San Francisco 49ers May 17 1 year, $920k S Kavon Frazier Miami Dolphins May 27 1 year, $990k WR Reece Horn Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL) July 26 1 year, $660k
Releases Position Player Date released 2021 team Contract C B. J. Finney March 5 Pittsburgh Steelers 1 year, $1.127 million DT Geno Atkins March 19 OT Bobby Hart March 19 Buffalo Bills 1 year, $1.127 million RB Giovani Bernard April 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 year, $1.075 million
Trades March 19 – Quarterback Ryan Finley and the Bengals' 2021 seventh-round selection (No. 231 overall) were traded to the Houston Texans for the Texans' 2021 sixth-round selection (No. 200 overall). August 30 – Center Billy Price was traded to the New York Giants for defensive tackle B.J. Hill.
Draft
Trades Seattle traded center B. J. Finney and Detroit's seventh-round selection (No. 235) to Cincinnati for defensive end Carlos Dunlap. Cincinnati traded Ryan Finley and seventh round selection (No. 248) to the Houston Texans in exchange for a sixth-round selection (No. 202). Cincinnati traded their second-round selection (38th overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for the Patriots second-round selection (46th overall) and two fourth-round selections (122nd and 139th overall).
Undrafted free agents The Bengals announced their Undrafted free agent class on May 14. 2021 Undrafted Free Agents Player Position College Date Cut Pooka Williams Jr. RB Kansas May 14 August 31 Pro Wells TE TCU August 16 Antonio Phillips CB Ball State August 31 Darius Hodge DE Marshall Riley Lees WR Northwestern August 16 Drue Chrisman P Ohio State August 31 Gunnar Vogel OT Northwestern July 27
Staff
Final roster
NFL Top 100
Rank Player Position Change 73 Trey Hendrickson DE N/A 90 Jessie Bates FS N/A
Preseason The Bengals' preseason opponents and schedule were announced on May 12.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 19–14 1–0 Raymond James Stadium Recap 2 at Washington Football Team L 13–17 1–1 FedExField Recap 3 August 29 Miami Dolphins L 26–29 1–2 Paul Brown Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule The Bengals 2021 schedule was announced on May 12.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 Minnesota Vikings W 27–24 ( 1–0 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 2 September 19 at Chicago Bears L 17–20 1–1 Soldier Field Recap 3 September 26 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–10 2–1 Heinz Field Recap 4 Jacksonville Jaguars W 24–21 3–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 5 October 10 Green Bay Packers L 22–25 3–2 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 6 October 17 at Detroit Lions W 34–11 4–2 Ford Field Recap 7 October 24 at Baltimore Ravens W 41–17 5–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 8 October 31 at New York Jets L 31–34 5–3 MetLife Stadium Recap 9 November 7 Cleveland Browns L 16–41 5–4 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 10 Bye 11 November 21 at Las Vegas Raiders W 32–13 6–4 Allegiant Stadium Recap 12 November 28 Pittsburgh Steelers W 41–10 7–4 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 13 December 5 Los Angeles Chargers L 22–41 7–5 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 14 December 12 San Francisco 49ers L 23–26 7–6 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 15 December 19 at Denver Broncos W 15–10 8–6 Empower Field at Mile High Recap 16 December 26 Baltimore Ravens W 41–21 9–6 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 17 January 2 Kansas City Chiefs W 34–31 10–6 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 18 January 9 at Cleveland Browns L 16–21 10–7 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 2: at Chicago Bears
Week 3: at Pittsburgh Steelers This was Cincinnati's first win in Pittsburgh since 2015.
Week 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars The Bengals improved to 3–1 for the first time since 2018 with this win, despite only taking the lead with 4 seconds left in the game on a game winning Evan McPherson field goal. Burrow was recognized as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in this game, in which he completed 25 out of 32 passes for a total of 348 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, posting a 132.8 passer rating.
Week 5: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 6: at Detroit Lions
Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens
This was Cincinnati's first win in Baltimore since 2017.
Week 8: at New York Jets
Week 9: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 11: at Las Vegas Raiders
Week 12: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
With the win, the Bengals improved to 7–4 and swept the Steelers for the first time since 2009.
Week 13: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 14: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 15: at Denver Broncos
Week 16: vs. Baltimore Ravens
With the win this marked the first time since 2015 that the Bengals swept the Ravens.
Week 17: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
With the win, the Bengals clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2015, and won their first AFC North title since 2015 as well.
Week 18: at Cleveland Browns
With the loss, the Bengals finished the regular season at 10–7 and were swept by the Browns in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1994 and 1995.
Standings
Division
Conference
Postseason
Schedule Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card Las Vegas Raiders (5) W 26–19 1–0 Paul Brown Stadium Recap Divisional at Tennessee Titans (1) W 19–16 2–0 Nissan Stadium Recap AFC Championship January 30 at Kansas City Chiefs (2) W 27–24 3–0 Arrowhead Stadium Recap Super Bowl LVI February 13 vs. Los Angeles Rams (N4) L 20–23 3–1 SoFi Stadium Recap
Game summaries
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. (5) Las Vegas Raiders
With the win, the Bengals won their first playoff game since January 6, 1991.
AFC Divisional Playoffs: at (1) Tennessee Titans
This was the first time in franchise history that the Bengals won a playoff game on the road.
AFC Championship: at (2) Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati's 18-point comeback matched a record previously set by 2006 Indianapolis Colts.
Super Bowl LVI: vs. (N4) Los Angeles Rams
Notes
Statistics
Team
CategoryTotal yardsYards per gameNFL rank Passing offense 4,403 259.0 7th Rushing offense 1,742 102.5 23rd Total offense 6,145 361.5 13th Passing defense 4,222 248.4 26th Rushing defense 1,742 102.5 5th Total defense 5,964 350.8 18th
Individual
CategoryPlayerTotal yards Offense Passing Joe Burrow 4,611 Rushing Joe Mixon 1,205 Receiving Ja'Marr Chase 1,455 Defense Tackles (Solo) Jessie Bates 67 Sacks Trey Hendrickson 14 Interceptions Logan Wilson 4
Statistics correct as of the end of the 2021 NFL season
References
External links