Top 10 Greatest Plays in Cincinnati Bengals History

The Cincinnati Bengals have had a storied history and will storied if you overlook 1991-2020! The other years, the Bengals were usually a good team. Of course, the arrival of Joe Burrow has stopped people from making fun of the Bengals, and now, instead, there are all kinds of new Bengals fans. Today is for all you bandwagon fans as we look back at the most critical plays in Bengals history.

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Did the play win a big game in the regular season or the playoffs? Of course, the bigger the game, the bigger the play. We do have an individual record on this list, but that was an electrifying Thursday night in Cincinnati.

10) Corey Dillon breaks single-game rushing record

Corey Dillon was one the most controversial players in Bengals history. However, he rallied the entire fanbase on October 22, 2000. Cincinnati started with a 0-6 record. In their new stadium, they were winless.

Dillon broke the NFL single-game record for rushing yards at 278 yards. Dillon’s 41-yard sprint down the sideline secured the victory and the record for the most yards gamed in a single game. Dillon broke Walter Payton’s 1977 record of 275 yards. Jamal Lewis from Baltimore would eventually surpass it with his 295-yard day in 2003. But Dillon and the Bengals stunned the football world when they defeated the Broncos. Dillon is a member of the All-Time Cincinnati Bengals team.

2000 10 21 Dillon runs for 278 yards

9) Anthony Munoz game-tying touchdown catch vs the Browns in 1984

The Greatest Bengal of all, Anthony Munoz caught a game-tying touchdown pass with time running out in 1984 against the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals trailed with 5 minutes left, 17-7; a Jim Breech FG put them down by seven points and with time running out, Munoz caught his first-ever touchdown pass, and the Bengals would win in overtime on a Jim Breech Field Goal.

Muñoz Scores First Touchdown – 1984

8) Evan Mcpherson’s 52-yard field goal to beat the Titans in Divisional playoff 2021

Money Mac made believers of us all with this 52-yard field goal to advance the Bengals to the AFC Championship game.

Evan McPherson is back Bengals beat Titans to earn a spot in the AFC Championship Game

7) Ken Riley Pick Six to beat the Browns in 1983

An excellent candidate for any Bengals, Mount Rushmore of players. Ken Riley, the ultimate ballhawk for fifteen years, was still a force in his final season. He is the fifth-most prolific NFL interceptor with 65.

This 1983 victory against the Browns was one of his most important. Late in the fourth quarter, tied 21-21, Riley intercepted Brian Sipe to take it to the house in a 28-21 Bengals win.

Ken Riley || The Most Underrated Player Ever

6) 1977 Anderson to McInally to beat the Steelers

The Bengals had a habit of losing to the Steelers at the end of the season or even early in the season and missing the playoffs. The Bengals and Steelers battled on a frozen Riverfront Stadium field in a battle for first place in the AFC Central with just one game remaining after this. Lemar Parrish intercepted Terry Bradshaw and turned it into a pick-six in the first half as the Bengals trailed 10-7 at halftime. Ken Anderson would then go on to through for 200 yards in the second half against the Steel Curtain and, with time running out, hit Pat McInally on a deep bomb that gave the Bengals a 17-10 win over the Steelers. The Bengals, of course, still lost the division by losing to the Oilers the next week, 21-17. Go to the 13 minute mark of the video below to see the play. Anderson is one of the Top 15 Cincinnati Bengals of all-time.

5) Evan McPherson’s Game-winning Field Goal to win the 2021 AFC Championship

If Al Michaels was calling this game as the kick went through, he could have screamed that the impossible dream had come true! Nobody thought the Bengals had any chance to even get this far, but to beat the mighty Kansas City Chiefs? The National media gave them no chance. The Bengals trailed at one point 21-3 in this game and staged one of the most improbable comebacks in NFL history to advance to their third Super Bowl in team history.

Evan McPherson sends the Bengals to the Super Bowl vs the Chiefs!!!

4) Germaine Pratt’s interception to beat the Raiders in 2021

This was huge because it sealed the Bengals first playoff win since January 1991. The curse was broken on a fourth down play as the Raiders were close to tying the game and sending it to overtime; the curse had finally been broken!

Bengals Game Winning Interception Bengals & Raiders Radio Call

3) Chip Lohmiller missed a 29-yard game-winning field goal in 1988

This play was huge for many reasons; the Bengals needed a win to clinch the AFC Central. A loss here would have placed the 1988 AFC Championship in Buffalo. The Redskins had a dreadful season after winning the Super Bowl the previous season but had a 29-yard FG to win the game and kill the Bengals shot at a divisional title and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Lohmiller had never missed a field goal of fewer than 30 yards in his career, but he smacked this one wide right off the upright, and the Bengals won in overtime. To make it even better, the Colts upset the Bills the next day, giving the Bengals a home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Washington Redskins vs Cincinnati Bengals (December 17, 1988) “Bengals Win Division Title”

2) The Fumble in the Jungle

The Ravens were on the doorstep of taking a touchdown lead as they sat at the one-yard line. The Ravens defense was dominant, and this looked like many games we had seen in our history! Luckily for the Bengals, we no longer live in the past, we live in the present, and the Bengals’ luck has finally turned. Tyler Huntley goes over the top, Sam Hubbard blocks it, Germaine Pratt bats it out of the pile to Sam Hubbard, who takes it 98 yards, and the fumble in the jungle is born.

Relive The Fumble In The Jungle l Next Gen Stats

1) Stanford Jennings 93-yard Kickoff Return in Super Bowl XXIII

The Bengals led 13-6 at the end of the third quarter thanks to Jennings’ 93-yard touchdown return in Super Bowl XXIII.

Joe Montana was able to find the end zone twice in the fourth quarter, but Cincinnati could not stop him. Since 1988, the Bengals have not been to the Super Bowl. Jennings’ play is undoubtedly the greatest in team history.

Stanford Jennings’ Kickoff Return In Super Bowl XXIII | Cincinnati Bengals

Honorable Mentions

Giovani Bernard’s Touchdown run against Miami in 2013

Giovani Bernard is one the most elusive running backs in team history. He showed it in this 35-yard TD run against Miami in primetime. It was almost like a whole drive compressed into twenty seconds. Dolphins Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes made two missed tackles. Bernard logged almost 140 yards total on the windy road to pay dirt.

Giovani Bernard Unreal Run On Thursday Night Football

Andy Dalton Heaves Last-Second Hail Mary To A.J. Green, Bengals tie Ravens 2013!

Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton throws up a bomb as time runs out, which is deflected into the hands of WR A.J. Green for a miraculous Hail Mary TD to force overtime in 2013. The Bengals had trailed 17-0 at halftime but tied the game with this miraculous hail mary.

Andy Dalton Hail Mary TD vs Ravens 11/10/13

A.J. Green’s go-ahead Touchdown against the Steelers in the 2015 AFC Wildcard

The 2015 season was promising, but Andy Dalton broke his thumb in December against the Steelers.

A.J. McCarron was the Quarterback for the final month and led the Bengals into the playoffs against the hated Pittsburgh Steelers; the Steelers are hated because their fan base is and team is as dirty as a team can get. The Bengals were down 15-0 in the fourth quarter and then mounted a frantic comeback.

McCarron found Green open wide for a touchdown in the most significant throw of his professional career. This score gave the Bengals a lead of 17-15 in the fourth quarter with under two minutes left. Let’s pretend that the game was over at that point.

AJ McCarron to A.J. Green for the TD & Lead! | Steelers vs. Bengals | NFL