The 2024 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 55th in the National Football League (NFL), their 57th overall, their 25th playing their home games at Paycor Stadium and their sixth under head coach Zac Taylor.
Despite a 4–8 start, their worst since 2020, the Bengals rallied to win their final five games of the season and remain in playoff contention late in the season. However, they were eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season when the Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. The season was largely defined by stellar offensive play along with poor defensive play. On the offensive side of the ball, Joe Burrow led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns and was responsible for the Bengals having the best passing offense. Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase led all other receivers in receiving yards, receptions, and receiving touchdowns, becoming the 7th wide receiver to win the triple crown in the Super Bowl era. On the defensive side, the Bengals, despite having the league's sack leader Trey Hendrickson, had the 7th-worst scoring defense, allowing 30 or more points in six of their games, and were 4–7 in one-score games. They also set an NFL record for most losses while still scoring 30 or more points in a single game, with four. This included two late double-digit comebacks by their divisional rival, the Baltimore Ravens, in both games played. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was let go by the team following the end of the season.
Offseason Free agents
Unrestricted Position Player 2024 Team Date signed Contract CB Chidobe Awuzie Tennessee Titans March 11 3 years, $36 million LB Joe Bachie Cincinnati Bengals April 15 1 year, $1.275 million LB Markus Bailey Arizona Cardinals May 7 1 year, $1.275 million WR Tyler Boyd Tennessee Titans May 7 1 year, $4.5 million LB Akeem Davis-Gaither Cincinnati Bengals March 11 1 year, $2.742 million G Cody Ford Cincinnati Bengals March 9 1 year, $1.35 million WR Tee Higgins Cincinnati Bengals June 17 1 year, $21.8 million QB A.J. McCarron DT D.J. Reader Detroit Lions March 14 2 years, $22 million TE Drew Sample Cincinnati Bengals March 11 3 years, $10.5 million G Max Scharping Philadelphia Eagles June 3 1 year TE Irv Smith Jr. Kansas City Chiefs March 12 1 year, $1.292 million DT Josh Tupou Baltimore Ravens May 28 1 year, $1.275 million T Jonah Williams Arizona Cardinals March 13 2 years, $30 million RB Trayveon Williams Cincinnati Bengals March 11 1 year, $1.292 million
Restricted Position Player 2024 Team Date signed Contract TE Tanner Hudson Cincinnati Bengals March 15 1 year, $1.292 million WR Trenton Irwin Cincinnati Bengals March 15 1 year, $2 million TE Mitchell Wilcox New England Patriots April 22 1 year, $1.075 million
Exclusive rights Position Player 2024 Team Date signed Contract LS Cal Adomitis Cincinnati Bengals April 15 1 year, $985k QB Jake Browning Cincinnati Bengals April 23 2 years
Signings Position Player 2023 Team Date signed Contract S Geno Stone Baltimore Ravens March 11 2 years, $14 million RB Zack Moss Indianapolis Colts March 11 2 years, $8 million TE Mike Gesicki New England Patriots March 12 1 year, $2.25 million DT Sheldon Rankins Houston Texans March 13 2 years, $24.5 million S Vonn Bell Carolina Panthers March 14 1 year, $6 million OT Trent Brown New England Patriots March 19 1 year, $4.75 million QB Logan Woodside Atlanta Falcons April 23 1 year, $1.125 million
Releases Position Player Date released 2024 Team Date signed Contract S Nick Scott March 13 Carolina Panthers March 22 1 year, $1.292 million
Trades March 12 – Running back Joe Mixon was traded to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round pick (No. 224 overall; originally acquired from the Arizona Cardinals).
Draft
+ 2024 Cincinnati Bengals draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 18 Amarius Mims OT Georgia 2 49 Kris Jenkins Jr. DT Michigan 3 80 Jermaine Burton WR Alabama 97 McKinnley Jackson DT Texas A&M Compensatory selection 4 115 Erick All TE Iowa 5 149 Josh Newton CB TCU 6 194 Tanner McLachlan TE Arizona 214 Cedric Johnson DE Mississippi Compensatory selection 7 224 Daijahn Anthony S Mississippi From Texans 237 Matt Lee C Miami Draft trades
+ 2024 Cincinnati Bengals undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Justin Blazek DE UW–Platteville Cole Burgess WR Cortland Noah Cain RB LSU Aaron Casey LB Indiana Elijah Collins RB Oklahoma State Michael Dowell S Miami (OH) Cam Grandy TE Illinois State P. J. Jules S Southern Illinois Rocky Lombardi QB Northern Illinois Austin McNamara P Texas Tech Eric Miller OT Louisville Tre Mosley WR Michigan State Maema Njongmeta LB Wisconsin Lance Robinson CB Tulane
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 14–17 0–1 Paycor Stadium Recap 2 at Chicago Bears L 3–27 0–2 Soldier Field Recap 3 Indianapolis Colts L 14–27 0–3 Paycor Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 8 New England Patriots L 10–16 0–1 Paycor Stadium Recap 2 September 15 at Kansas City Chiefs L 25–26 0–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 3 Washington Commanders L 33–38 0–3 Paycor Stadium Recap 4 September 29 at Carolina Panthers W 34–24 1–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap 5 October 6 Baltimore Ravens L 38–41 1–4 Paycor Stadium Recap 6 October 13 at New York Giants W 17–7 2–4 MetLife Stadium Recap 7 October 20 at Cleveland Browns W 21–14 3–4 Huntington Bank Field Recap 8 October 27 Philadelphia Eagles L 17–37 3–5 Paycor Stadium Recap 9 November 3 Las Vegas Raiders W 41–24 4–5 Paycor Stadium Recap 10 at Baltimore Ravens L 34–35 4–6 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 11 November 17 at Los Angeles Chargers L 27–34 4–7 SoFi Stadium Recap 12 Bye 13 December 1 Pittsburgh Steelers L 38–44 4–8 Paycor Stadium Recap 14 at Dallas Cowboys W 27–20 5–8 AT&T Stadium Recap 15 December 15 at Tennessee Titans W 37–27 6–8 Nissan Stadium Recap 16 December 22 Cleveland Browns W 24–6 7–8 Paycor Stadium Recap 17 Denver Broncos W 30–24 8–8 Paycor Stadium Recap 18 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 19–17 9–8 Acrisure Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. New England Patriots
The Bengals started their season at home against the Patriots. After a scoreless first quarter, the Patriots were able to put up a 10–0 lead in the second, going into halftime. In the third quarter, the Pats made it 13–0 by way of Joey Slye's 35-yard field goal. The Bengals finally got on the board when Zack Moss ran for a 5-yard touchdown to make it 13–7. Slye would put the Pats up 16–7 by way of a 37-yard field goal. The Bengals would end the scoring when Evan McPherson kicked a 51-yard field goal to make the final score 16–10.
With the loss, the Bengals started 0–1 for the third consecutive year.
Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs
After a tough loss at home, the Bengals then traveled to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs. In the first quarter, the Bengals scored first when Evan McPherson kicked a 22-yard field goal to make it 3–0. The Chiefs then made it 3–3 when Harrison Butker kicked a 19-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Bengals took the lead when Joe Burrow found Andrei Iosivas on a 5-yard touchdown pass to make it 10–3. The Chiefs tied it up at 10–10 when Patrick Mahomes connected with Rashee Rice on a 44-yard touchdown pass. The Bengals then made it 16–10 at halftime by way of a couple field goals by McPherson from 33 and 48 yards out. In the third quarter, the Chiefs retook the lead when Mahomes found Wanya Morris on a 1-yard touchdown pass to make it 17–16. The Bengals took the lead back later on in the quarter when Burrow and Iosivas connected again on a 3-yard touchdown pass (with a failed two-point conversion) to make it 22–17. In the fourth quarter, The Chiefs moved ahead 23–22 when Chamarri Conner returned a fumble 38 yards for a touchdown. The Bengals moved back into the lead when McPherson kicked a 52-yard field goal. Finally, the Chiefs completed the comeback when Butker kicked a 51-yard field goal to make the final score 26–25.
With the loss, the Bengals fell to 0–2 for the third consecutive year.
Week 3: vs. Washington Commanders
Despite the loss, which dropped Cincinnati to 0–3 for the first time since 2019, this game became the sixth regular season "no punt game" in recorded NFL history. In particular, both Washington and Cincinnati finished the game without a punt or a turnover, the first time this has occurred since at least 1940, when NFL stats began to be regularly recorded.
Week 4: at Carolina Panthers The Bengals defeated the Panthers and their former quarterback, Andy Dalton, who was filling in for an injured Bryce Young. This was the first time the Bengals had defeated the Panthers in Charlotte since 2010. The Bengals moved to 1–3.
Week 5: vs. Baltimore Ravens Despite a career day for Joe Burrow, the Bengals could not contain Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense, choking away leads of 31-21 and 38-28 and falling in overtime to fall to 1–4 on the season.
Week 6: at New York Giants
The Bengals recorded their first road win against the Giants, having not done so in 4 other attempts.
Week 7: at Cleveland Browns
This was Joe Burrow's first win in Cleveland and the Bengals first win in Cleveland since 2017.
Week 8: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Bengals returned home to take on the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite taking an early 10–3 lead, the Bengals could not slow down the visiting Eagles as they would be outscored 34–7 by Philadelphia the rest of the way. Cincinnati fell to 0–4 at home on the season with the 37–17 blowout loss, their only multiple-score loss of the 2024 season. This was the Bengals' first loss to the Eagles since the 2000 season, and their first ever home loss to Philadelphia.
The game traded time slots with the Chicago Bears-Washington Commanders matchup. As such, this was no longer the marquee Sunday matchup of the day.
Week 9: vs. Las Vegas Raiders The Bengals defeated the Raiders in their meeting against them since their playoff meeting 3 years earlier, in which the Bengals ended their playoff drought.
Week 10: at Baltimore Ravens For the second time this season, a career day by Joe Burrow against Baltimore was wasted by the heroics of Lamar Jackson.
Week 11: at Los Angeles Chargers Although they tied the game at 27 after trailing 27-6, Evan McPherson missed 2 field goals late, and this ultimately led to the Chargers scoring a late touchdown to seal the win for them. The Bengals fell to 4–7.
Week 13: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers The Bengals became the first team in NFL history to lose 3 games where they scored 30 or more points in one season.
Week 14: at Dallas Cowboys
This was Cincinnati's first win in Dallas and against the Cowboys since 1988 and 2004 respectively.
Week 15: at Tennessee Titans In a turnover-filled game by both teams, the Bengals defeated the Titans 37–27 despite committing 4 turnovers on offense, though they made up for this by forcing 6 Titan turnovers. The Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive by improving to 6–8.
Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns
With the win, the Bengals improved to 7–8 and remained alive in the playoff race. They also swept Cleveland for the first time since 2017.
Week 17: vs. Denver Broncos
With the win, the Bengals improved to 8–8 and remained alive in the playoff race.
Week 18: at Pittsburgh Steelers
With the win, the Bengals finished 9–8, but were eliminated the following day thanks to the Broncos' win over the Chiefs.
Standings Division
Conference
Notes
References
External links