1 seed. Rick Razzano Razzano was a Bengal linebacker between 1980-1984. The Bengals faced the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI on January 24, 1982. He died at age 37 in 1992 due to a heart condition. This seemed to fire up Cincinnati's defense, which limited the 49ers to only 8 plays and 4 offensive yards for the entire third quarter. He had 65 career interceptions. Super Bowl XVI also became one of the most watched broadcasts in American television history, with more than 85 million viewers, and a final national Nielsen rating of 49.1 (a 73 share).[4]. Taking advantage of their great starting field position, the Bengals marched 53 yards in 7 plays and scored a touchdown on a 4-yard pass from Anderson to Ross. At left tackle, Munoz protected Anderson in Super Bowl XVI and Boomer Esiason later on in Super Bowl XXII. The Bengals managed to score their final touchdown with 16 seconds left, but could not recover the ensuing onside kick. Cincinnati's 356 yards of offense to San Francisco's 275 marked the first time in Super Bowl history that a team which was outgained in total yards won. Ray Horton Horton was a cornerback for the Bengals between 1983-1988 then moved on to Dallas for 1989-1992 and was part of the Cowboys' Super Bowl XXVII champions. Cincinnati's defense was also led by defensive backs Louis Breeden and Ken Riley, and linebackers Bo Harris, Jim LeClair, and Reggie Williams, who intercepted four passes and recovered three fumbles. (Schedule and Results), Playoffs:Lost Wild Card 17-44 vs. New York Jets, Other Notable Asst. The touring cast program of 430 people from 24 countries made its third of four appearances at the Super Bowl during the 1982 . That said, going into Super Bowl XVI, most experts agreed that both teams were very evenly matched, but many thought Pete Johnson's rushing ability could prove to be the difference. But San Francisco cornerback Ronnie Lott and linebackers Bunz and Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds tackled him for no gain, giving the ball back to the 49ers. Copyright 2019-2023. After returning the opening kickoff 17 yards, San Francisco rookie returner Amos Lawrence was hit by Bengals rookie linebacker Guy Frazier and fumbled at his own 26-yard line (the first time in a Super Bowl that a turnover took place on the opening kick), where John Simmons recovered for Cincinnati. Everyone was talking about it leading up to the game, but Woods didnt get to showcase his skills under the bright lights in Miami. Bengals founder Paul Brown floats through the minus-59 wind chill to the locker room to congratulate the first Bengals team to ever go to the Super Bowl. [6][7], Michigan governor William Milliken, Detroit mayor Coleman Young, and Pontiac mayor Wallace E. Holland were part of the delegation, and notably offered the Silverdome rent-free. The NFL Combine Finally Opened Up Workouts to Media, Revealing More About the NFL Than Draft Prospects, The 2023 NFL Draft Safety Class Has Versatility Which Represents Both Talent and Temptation, 2023 NFL Combine Results: Bench Press, 40-Yard Dash, Vertical, 3-Cone, and More, Buffalo Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott Has a Lot on His Plate Following Leslie Fraziers Departure. Before that appearance, they made two Super Bowl appearances in the 1980s before suffering a franchise drought in the 90s that spilled into the 2000s. Don't rack your brain too hard looking for this one. James Brooks A four-time Pro Bowl player for the Bengals between 1984-1991, Brooks played against the Bengals prior to their first Super Bowl in the AFC championship "Freezer Bowl" as a San Diego Charger. He now lives in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area working in operations, facilities and finance. He caught three passes for 32 yards in the game. The last remaining active member of the 1982 Cincinnati Bengals was tight end Rodney Holman, who retired after the 1995 season. He helped resurrect the Taft High School football program. Ross died at age 49 in 2004 n New Hampshire. He would just put his hands in a warmer between plays. I'm not interested in seeing how tough of a man you are." The band later performed the Canadian National Anthem, which was not televised. During the season, both teams had shown impressive ball security. Tom Dinkel A linebacker and Bengals special teams captain, he was a Bengal between 1978-1985. A string of wild card losses later and here they are, playing to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl for the second time in as many years. Gregg played in Super Bowls I and II as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Cincinnati went 12-4 during the regular season, winning the AFC Central and claiming the No. 1981 Cincinnati Bengals Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees Previous Season Next Season Record: 12-4-0, 1st in AFC Central Division ( Schedule and Results ) Coach: Forrest Gregg (12-4-0) Points For: 421 (26.3/g) 3rd of 28 Points Against: 304 (19.0/g) 12th of 28 Expected W-L: 10.9-5.1 SRS: 5.51 (4th of 28), SOS: -1.81 Playoffs: The Bengals also committed four turnovers to San Francisco's one, which played a major factor in the outcome. Free shipping for many products! In 1988, Esiason passed for 3,572 yards on 388 attempts and won the MVP award, much like Anderson did the year he took the team to the title game. The game would be played inside the Pontiac Silverdome, in the Detrot suburb of Pontiac. The broadcast also featured the introduction of the telestrator to a national audience, that was named CBS Chalkboard. The Bengals had the first opportunity to score early in the game. He was named an All-Pro nine times and selected to a whopping 11 Pro Bowls in his 13-year career, playing every season for the Bengals. David Verser Verser was the Bengals' first-round pick in 1981 out of Kansas ahead of second-round receiver Cris Collinsworth. The Bengals had two Super Bowl runs in the 1980s, advancing to Super Bowl XVI in 1982 and Super Bowl XXIII in 1989. . The play Cooper scored on had not been called by Bill Walsh for two years. "1982 Super Bowl" redirects here. According to the NFL's highlight film for the game, the 49ers had discovered Wersching's ability to effectively use the squib during their 1981 season opener when a leg injury kept him from fully powering into the football; because that game was also played at the Silverdome, Bill Walsh felt that Wersching would be able to recreate the crazy bounces of a squib on the hard AstroTurf by shortening his stride and seeing what happened. That alone makes him deserving of a spot on this list, even though the team didnt win in his only Super Bowl appearance. The Bengals then tried to run Johnson into the line on second down, but lost a yard when a charging rush prevented the Bengals from executing their blocking assignments. For the first time, a northern, cold weather climate city was picked to host a Super Bowl. Jim Breech Again, three field goals in Super Bowl XXIII may have earned him MVP honors, but after spotting actor John Candy on the sidelines, Joe Montana led the Niners on a drive that left Cincinnati short with 34 seconds to go. Bunz, however, corralled Alexander at the line of scrimmage on an open-field tackle and kept him from reaching the end zone. Even though the team came up short in Super Bowl XVI, Anderson is one of the best quarterbacks the Bengals have ever had. Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Washington all have four players in Super Bowl 56. QB Ken Anderson was at the height of his Cincinnati. This was the first touchdown of the game and the only one the Bengals scored all day. Bryan Hicks The starting free safety played three seasons for the Bengals from 1980-1982. (AP Photo), Their breath made visible by sub-zero temperatures, fans cheer during the AFC championship game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Diego Chargers in Cincinnati, Jan. 11, 1982. Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts, who is in the Hall while Anderson has been inexplicably frozen out, floats 15 of 28 for 185 yards, a TD and two picks. The 49ers posted a 133 regular season record, and playoff wins over the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. had these big leather gloves," Gregg says. In the Super Bowl, the score was tied at 3 at the half, with neither team really doing much on offense. Collinsworth had 107, while Ross had 104. Tight end Dan Ross had 71 receptions for 910 yards and 5 touchdowns, while wide receivers Isaac Curtis and Steve Kreider each recorded 37 receptions, combining for a total of 1,129 yards and 9 touchdowns. "I remember how elated he was," says their coach that day, Forrest Gregg, recalling it all on the 20th anniversary. After returning the interception 25 yards, Wright fumbled while being tackled by Bengals guard Max Montoya, but San Francisco linebacker Willie Harper recovered the ball at the Bengals' 22. However, things did not go to plan for the Bengals in the Super Bowl itself. In 1982, the league reverted to the pre-1979 practice of assigning each official a different number. He led Holy Cross to aKentucky High School Athletic Association Division 2A state title in 2011. South Florida would not be selected to host another Super Bowl until Joe Robbie Stadium was built, and it hosted XXIII.[12][13]. Robbie convinced the other owners to vote down Miami, in an effort to gain leverage towards building a new stadium. Prior to Super Bowl XXIII, he took part in a televised NFL talent contest showing off his talents as a singer. This was the first Super Bowl to feature two first-time participants since Super Bowl III (there has been only one since, Super Bowl XX between the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots). There was a lot of symmetry in the Bengals two Super Bowl appearances. Interestingly, the Bengals have only ever faced teams from the NFC West when they made it to the Super Bowl. "Forrest said it was going to be like going to the dentist," Lapham says. Until the 1981 season, they had never won a playoff game in their entire history. $26.99 + $13.17 shipping. Find out more. Anthony Munoz The left tackle was in the second season of his NFL Hall of Fame career. "If there's one thing I learned from Lombardi," Gregg says all those years later, "it was if you're going to play outdoors, you have to practice outdoors. Spirals. (AP Photo), San Diego Chargers running back Chuck Muncie (46) reaches for a pass from quarterback Dan Fouts during the AFC championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati on Jan. 11, 1982. Not even the fury of. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 300 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the game. He played for the team until the 1993 season. The game was televised in the United States by CBS and featured the broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Pat Summerall and color commentator John Madden (the latter making his Super Bowl debut as a broadcaster). The four-time Pro Bowl pick has twice been a finalist for the NFL Hall of Fame and has been nominated numerous times. Riley died in 2020 at age 72. Stanley Wilson A Bengal from 1983-1984, 1986 and 1988, he was suspended from the NFL in 1985 and 1987 for cocaine use. He retired as a City of Cincinnati policeman. When Joe Burrow said his career is the Bengals' Super Bowl window, he wasn't kidding. That said, Esiason is still a legend in Cincinnati. Pete Johnson was the Cincinnati Bengals' leading rusher in the Freezer Bowl with 80 yards. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. They're bidding for their second straight appearance this season. The Bengals looked like they had a grasp on the game when they scored 10-straight points coming out of the half. Ross is currently 14th in Bengals history in terms of receiving yards with 3,204. M.L. (AP Photo), Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Louis Breedon, right, intercepts a pass to San Diego Chargers receiver Charlie Joinor, left, to break up a second quarter drive by the Chargers in Cincinnati on Jan. 10, 1982. Bruce Kozerski A Bengal from 1984-1995, the Holy Cross (Massachusetts) grad has gone on to coach Holy Cross High School in Covington. He also gained 14 rushing yards and a touchdown on 6 carries. [5] Automotive executives Tom Murphy (GM), Henry Ford II (Ford), John J. Riccardo (Chrysler), and Gerald C. Meyers (AMC) were all members of the Detroit host committee. He carried the ball 20 times for a respectable 79 yards but just couldnt find the end zone. Furthermore, Anderson had advanced through the playoffs without throwing a single interception, while Montana had been intercepted 4 times, 3 of them in the NFC title game. Harris. The 1982 Cincinnati Bengals roster for the NFL regular season and playoffs "M.L. (Schedule and Results), Playoffs:Lost Wild Card 17-44 vs. New York Jets, Other Notable Asst. I think that helped us more than anything because we got more reps, more plays in that week outside." Sam WycheWyche coached the Bengals through 1991, then led Tampa Bay from 1992-1995. Multi-talented running back Earl Cooper also provided the team with a good running and receiving threat, rushing for 330 yards and catching 51 passes for 477 yards. Fuller gained 35 yards on 4 punt returns. The 1982 season was the Cincinnati Bengals ' 13th season in the National Football League, their 15th overall and their third under head coach Forrest Gregg. Up with People was a popular performer during early Super Bowl games. The Bengals have once again challenged and failed to win the franchise's first Super Bowl championship. Fourteen of the previous 15 Super Bowls took place in either Miami, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana or in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Cincinnati Bengals roster for the 1982 NFL season. The game was broadcast on nationwide radio by CBS and featured the broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Jack Buck and color commentator Hank Stram. Rodney Holman A Bengal from 1982-1992, Holman made the Pro Bowl in three consecutive years from 1988-1990. At the end of CBS' telecast, they played ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All" over a montage of the 49ers playing in the game and the city of San Francisco. Steve Kreider Kreider caught 37 passes for five touchdowns in 1981. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Award is part of $3 million in new grants to athletic fields nationwide, 2023 The Cincinnati Bengals. The Riverfront Stadium scoreboard, locked at Bengals 27, Chargers 7. Ross scored two touchdowns and had . Fouts was intercepted twice in the game, and Anderson passed for two touchdowns and no interceptions. This time, despite the opponent being the same, the Super Bowl took a different pattern. He was with the Arizona Cardinals in 1996 and returned for one more stint with the Bengals in 1997. David Grant Grant was forced into the lineup in Super Bowl XXIII when nose tackle Tim Krumrie broke his leg early in the game. Dan Ross Ross had 11 catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Cincinnati Bengals tight end Dan Ross (89) celebrates his touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XVI Jan. 24, 1982, at the Silverdome. The following records were set in Super Bowl XVI, according to the official NFL.com boxscore[17] and the ProFootball reference.com game summary. Recently he's been with Sky Sports in the UK and Pro Football Focus TV. The 49ers had handily beaten the Bengals in a December game played in Cincinnati and consequently were installed as a 1-point favorite. Following the touchdown came a squib kick by kicker Ray Wersching that was finally recovered by Bengal receiver David Verser, who was quickly tackled at the 2-yard line. Montana's next two completions to Clark (his 4th and final reception of the game) and Solomon moved the ball to the 5-yard line. Is this Siberia?'" After recovering the fumble, the 49ers drove for a Super Bowl record 92 yards, scoring on a 10-yard pass from Montana to fullback Earl Cooper, increasing their lead to 140. Dave Lapham Starting at left guard, Lapham was a Bengal between 1974-1983. Chase won Offensive Rookie of the Year and broke the rookie receiving record on the way to this years title game. Jack Thompson The "Throwin' Samoan" was a first-round quarterback pick in 1979 and was with the Bengals through 1982. If you've got the equipment, use it. [10][11], After hosting five previous Super Bowls, Miami was noticeably left out, largely due the aging condition of the Orange Bowl, and for a hotel room mix-up at Super Bowl XIII two months earlier. Ross BrownerThe former first-round pick out of Notre Dame was a Bengal from 1978-1986. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. The Bengals drafted Norman Julius Esiason, aka Boomer, in Round 2 of the 1984 NFL Draft. Wilson Whitley Whitley was a Bengal from 1977-to 1982. He was selected to his only Pro Bowl the following season. 1 seed. "Big Hands Johnson. Bass was murdered at age 33 in 1989 in Texas. The Bengals' bully-boy offense hadn't even scored a touchdown, yet Cincinnati still led on a 93-yard Stanford Jennings kickoff return and three Jim Breech field goals. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Finally, Montana scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, giving San Francisco a 70 lead. Esiason spent 1993-1995 with the Jets and was the NFL Man of the Year in 1995. Munoz was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998 and is well-deserving of a list like this. However, Anderson threw an incomplete pass on first down, then was sacked by defensive end Jim Stuckey on second down for a 6-yard loss. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Detroit received rousing support from several NFL owners, including George Halas, Art Rooney, and Paul Brown. This was the only playoff loss by the Bengals at Riverfront Stadium. The smoke steaming off Eddie Edwards' ears when he catches on fire on the heated bench. The 49ers won 26-21 thanks to quarterback Joe Montana, but the Bengals offense definitely put up a fight. Covered everything exposed. Three-year veteran defensive back Dwight Hicks led the team with nine interceptions, which he returned for 239 yards and a touchdown, giving the secondary a total of 23. Former NFL executive director Don Weiss wrote in his book "The Making of the Super Bowl" that the game had been awarded to the Silverdome by the league as a "reward" to the locally-headquartered automobile companies Ford Motor Company and Chrysler for their "many years of sponsoring pro football". The Bengals tried an onside kick, but Clark recovered the ball for the 49ers, allowing San Francisco to run out the clock to win the game. After leaving, he played for the Jets and Cardinals before returning to finish his career in Cincinnati in 1997. The 49ers defeated the Bengals. The Bengals last made the Super Bowl in 2022, where Burrow and co. fell to the Los Angeles Rams in what turned out to be a thriller. Pro Football Network, LLC. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Anderson's 25 completions and his 73.5 completion percentage were both Super Bowl records. INDIANAPOLIS _ What we hear about the Bengals as we prowl the halls of the NFL scouting combine this week: INDIANAPOLIS _ Returning Wednesday to the spot where at last year's NFL scouting combine he declared he was on the look out for "Glass-Eaters," Bengals offensive line coach Frank Pollack said Jackson Carman chewed enough chards in his two playoff starts to be in the mix at right tackle if La'el Collins isn't ready Opening Day. Ken Anderson led the AFC in passing for the fourth time as the Bengals boasted the second-best offense in the NFL. Montana was named the Super Bowl MVP, completing 14 of 22 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 18 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Then, running back Ricky Patton ran twice, advancing the ball to the 39-yard line. What is the Cincinnati Bengals' history when it comes to the Super Bowl? : Bruce Coslet (Wide Receivers), Dick LeBeau (Defensive Backs), Dick Modzelewski (Defensive Line) and George Sefcik (Quarterbacks/RB), Principal Owner/General Manager: Paul Brown, Training Camp: Wilmington College (Wilmington, Ohio), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, March 3, 2:32PM. Just a year after the Bengals made it to the Super Bowl only to be beaten by the Rams, they're back in the AFC Championship Game against the same team they beat last season: The Kansas City Chiefs. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Wersching's 4 field goals tied a Super Bowl record set by Green Bay Packers kicker Don Chandler in Super Bowl II. The 49ers defeated the Bengals. The 49ers defeated the Bengals by the score of 26-21 to win their first Super Bowl. Ken Anderson's moustache. In National Football League lore, the Freezer Bowl is the nickname given to the 1981 AFC Championship Game between the San Diego Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals.The game was played on January 10, 1982, at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, and televised by NBC, with announcers Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen.The game, won by the Bengals, 27-7, was played in the coldest temperature in NFL .