1988 Cincinnati Bengals: Back to the Jungle
While there were quite a few changes to the team compared to their run in 1981, the 1988 Cincinnati Bengals brought with them a potent, balanced attack on offense that could stun opposing defenses, and a stingy defense that could take away the football at any given moment. The Bengals went 12-4 in the 1988 regular season, finishing two games ahead of the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Oilers to win the AFC Central division.
Regular Season Dominance
The Bengals jumped out to a strong 6-0 start in the regular season, riding a six-game winning streak that began with a 21-14 win over the Phoenix Cardinals in Week 1 on September 4, and ended with a 36-19 win over the New York Jets in Week 6 on October 9. The Bengals notched their biggest win against the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 42-7 in Week 10 on November 6.
An Explosive Offense
Quarterback and Backfield
Quarterback Boomer Esiason completed 233 of 388 pass attempts for 3,572 yards and 28 touchdowns. In the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft, the Bengals took UNLV fullback Elbert “Ickey” Woods with the 31st pick, and Woods didn’t disappoint. Best known for his Ickey Shuffle touchdown dance, Woods racked up 1,066 yards on 203 rushing attempts and scored 15 touchdowns on the ground. Woods also added 21 receptions for 199 yards.
Running back James Brooks had 931 yards on 182 rushing attempts and scored 8 touchdowns on the ground. Brooks was also a great receiving threat, hauling in 29 receptions for 287 yards and 6 touchdowns. Fullback Stanley Wilson added 398 yards on 112 rushing attempts and 2 touchdowns on the ground.
The Receiving Corps
Wide receiver Eddie Brown had 53 receptions for 1,273 yards and 9 touchdowns. Wide receiver Tim McGee had 36 receptions for 686 yards and 6 touchdowns. Tight end Rodney Holman had 39 receptions for 527 yards and 3 touchdowns. With a reduced receiving role but still a solid threat, Cris Collinsworth had 13 receptions for 227 yards and 1 touchdown.
Special Teams Playmakers
Running back Stanford Jennings handled kick-returning duties exceptionally well, tallying 32 kick returns for 684 yards and scoring 1 touchdown. Wide receiver Ira Hillary was the balanced special teams threat, posting 166 yards on 17 punt returns and 195 yards on 12 kick returns.
A Defense That Created Turnovers
Pressure Up Front
Nose tackle Tim Krumrie led Cincinnati’s defense in tackles with 152, and he also had 3 sacks. Defensive back and linebacker Barney Bussey had 4 sacks. Defensive end Jim Skow had 9.5 sacks. Defensive lineman Jason Buck had 6 sacks. Coming from West Virginia University as the 84th pick in the fourth round of the 1988 NFL Draft, defensive lineman David Grant had 5 sacks. Linebacker Leo Barker and outside linebacker Leon White both had 3 sacks. Outside linebacker Reggie Williams had 2.5 sacks.
Ballhawks in the Secondary
Cornerback Eric Thomas had 64 tackles and led the team with 7 interceptions. Strong safety David Fulcher had 5 interceptions for 38 yards and 1 touchdown. Cornerback Lewis Phillips had 4 interceptions. Defensive back Ray Horton had 3 interceptions. Free safety Solomon Wilcots, inside linebacker Carl Zander, and the fifth overall pick of the 1988 NFL Draft, defensive back Rickey Dixon, all had 1 interception apiece.
The Playoff Run to Miami
Division Round: Bengals 21, Seahawks 13
On December 31, 1988, the Bengals played the Seattle Seahawks in the Division Round, and Cincinnati won the game 21-13. Stanley Wilson had a 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to put the Bengals on the board, then came back in the second quarter with another 3-yard touchdown run. Ickey Woods followed that up with a 1-yard touchdown run to give Cincinnati a commanding 21-0 lead. Seattle fullback John Williams had a 7-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, and quarterback Dave Krieg added a 1-yard touchdown run, but the comeback bid for the Seahawks fell short.
AFC Championship: Bengals 21, Bills 10
The Bengals then took on the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game on January 8, 1989, and Cincinnati prevailed with a 21-10 win. Bills quarterback Jim Kelly outperformed Boomer Esiason statistically, going 14 for 30 for 163 yards and 1 touchdown. However, Kelly also threw 3 costly interceptions. Ickey Woods carried the heavy load for the Bengals, gaining 102 yards on 29 rushing attempts and scoring 2 touchdowns.
Ickey got his first touchdown on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, but Buffalo responded in the second quarter with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Jim Kelly to wide receiver Andre Reed. After James Brooks caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Boomer Esiason, Bills kicker Scott Norwood answered with a 39-yard field goal. Ickey then got his second touchdown in the fourth quarter with another 1-yard run to put the Bills away and send the 1988 Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XXIII: Heartbreak in Miami
The Cincinnati Bengals got their shot at avenging their Super Bowl XVI loss by playing the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida. Unfortunately for the Bengals, the 49ers would once again triumph, winning 20-16 on January 22. The game got off to a rocky start for both teams as 49ers offensive tackle Steve Wallace went down with a broken ankle, and Cincinnati’s Tim Krumrie went down with an injured left leg.
A Field-Goal Battle
A total of 5 field goals were kicked in Super Bowl XXIII, with both teams trading field goals through the first three quarters. San Francisco’s Mike Cofer kicked a 41-yard field goal in the first quarter, and Cincinnati kicker Jim Breech answered with a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter. Breech came back with a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter, and Cofer responded with a 32-yard field goal of his own.
San Francisco’s Late Heroics
The Bengals got a boost when Stanford Jennings returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown to put Cincinnati up 13-6. However, the 49ers owned the fourth quarter as wide receiver Jerry Rice caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Montana to tie the game at 13-13. After Jim Breech kicked a 40-yard field goal to put the Bengals back in front 16-13, the 49ers embarked on a successful 92-yard drive that spanned from 3:10 remaining down to just 0:34 left in the game, as Montana completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Taylor to dash Cincinnati’s hopes of revenge. Jerry Rice was named Super Bowl XXIII Most Valuable Player.
