| 2022 Cincinnati Bengals season | |
|---|---|
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| Owner | Mike Brown |
| Head coach | Zac Taylor |
| Home field | Paycor Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 12–4 |
| Division place | 1st AFC North |
| Playoff finish | Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Ravens) 24–17 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Bills) 27–10 Lost AFC Championship (at Chiefs) 20–23 |
| Pro Bowlers | QB Joe Burrow WR Ja'Marr Chase DE Trey Hendrickson |
| Uniform | |
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The 2022 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 53rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 55th overall, and their fourth under head coach Zac Taylor. After an 0–2 start, the Bengals quickly turned around, winning 12 out of their last 14 games to match their franchise best record of 12–4. The Bengals improved upon their 10–7 record from the previous season and clinched the AFC North title for the second straight year. Cincinnati's Week 17 game against Buffalo was declared a no-contest[I] after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest, resulting in only 16 games played. Despite the incident, they won the AFC North and won their last game to finish 12–4, tied for the best record in the history of the franchise, but they couldn’t clinch the 1 seed in the AFC as a result of the cancellation and risked losing home advantage if they lost their last game and coin toss to the Baltimore Ravens.[1][2][3] Instead, they defeated Baltimore 27–16 to avoid that dreaded situation.[4]
The Bengals defeated Baltimore 24–17 in the Wild Card round. The most notable play was a fumble recovery and 98-yard touchdown return by defensive end Sam Hubbard after linebacker Logan Wilson stripped the ball from Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley on a quarterback sneak. The following week, the Bengals traveled to face Buffalo. Despite Buffalo's home-field advantage and snowy conditions, the Bengals prevailed 27–10.[5] With the win, they advanced to the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive year, a first in franchise history. The Bengals faced Kansas City in Arrowhead Stadium for a rematch of the previous year's contest and found themselves tied 20–20 late into the fourth quarter. However, a personal foul penalty by defensive end Joseph Ossai on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes would aid a late Kansas City field goal attempt and the Bengals ultimately lost 23–20 to the eventual Super Bowl LVII champions.
Shortly before the beginning of the preseason, the Bengals renamed their stadium Paycor Stadium. The stadium had been named after the team's founder and first head coach, Paul Brown, since it opened in 2000.[6]
Cite error: There are <ref group=upper-roman> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=upper-roman}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Miller, Ryan (January 6, 2023). "NFL playoffs changes approved by owners: Here are the scenarios". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ "'Follow the rulebook': Bengals not happy after lost fight against NFL's playoff scenario". The Enquirer. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ Wells, Adam. "Bengals Reportedly 'Livid' over Potential Coin Flip in Tiebreaker with Ravens". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ "Bengals beat Ravens to avoid coin flip, set up home rematch". AP News. January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ "Bengals return to AFC championship with 27-10 rout of Bills". AP News. January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ "Cincinnati Bengals and Paycor Announce Stadium Naming Rights Partnership". Bengals.com.