Cincinnati Bengals Odds, Lines & Betting

Location : Cincinnati, Ohio
Stadium : Paul Brown Stadium
Coach : Marvin Lewis
NFL Championships : 0

Browns Team Info : The Cincinnati Bengals franchise began their play in the American Football League in 1968 under the ownership of Paul Brown. The team got its name from a Cincinnati pro football franchise that existed back in the 1930s and ‘40s.

In 1970, the Bengals claimed the AFC Central Division title to become the first expansion team to win a divisional championship in their first three years of play. Cincinnati went on to win its second AFC Central championship in 1973 and a Wild-Card berth in the 1975 postseason The next five years were not as positive as the Bengals struggled, but again came out on top in 1981 when they won the Division and Conference titles led by QB Ken Anderson and rookie WR Cris Collingsworth to earn a spot in Super Bowl XVI. They were defeated 26-21 by the San Francisco 49ers. The Bengals won the AFC Championship again in 1988 led by QB Boomer Esiason and rookie sensation RB Ickey Woods. The popular “Ickey Shuffle” may have been reason for celebration, but Joe Montana’s TD pass with 34 seconds left to go in that year’s Super Bowl left the Bengals on the losing end.

The Sin-Sin-Naughty Bengals’ 2006 NFL season was a perfect example of how team chemistry, or the lack thereof, can spell the end of playoff hopes. The Bengals had more players get arrested / questioned by police and charged than probably any pro franchise in any of the major sports, ever. The repercussions of last year’s mess may still play some havoc with this year’s squad, but the sheer level of talent is definitely there if they can gel once again as a team.

Quarterback Carson Palmer healed very well from a nasty knee injury in playoffs following the 2005 season and wideout Chad Johnson is still one of the most electrifying players in the league, but they might be better off releasing troubled receiver Chris Henry before he can do more damage than good. If the Bengals don’t make the playoffs this year, there will be a few jobs vacant along the Ohio River.

Official Team Site: Bengals.com

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