| 2005 Cincinnati Bengals season | |
|---|---|
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| Owner | Mike Brown |
| Head coach | Marvin Lewis |
| Home field | Paul Brown Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 11–5 |
| Division place | 1st AFC North |
| Playoff finish | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Steelers) 17–31 |
| Pro Bowlers | T Willie Anderson WR Chad Johnson QB Carson Palmer CB Deltha O'Neal K Shayne Graham |
| AP All-Pros | WR Chad Johnson (1st team) |
| Uniform | |
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The 2005 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's 36th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 38th overall, and the third under head coach Marvin Lewis. It was the team's first season with a winning record, playoff berth, and division title since 1990. In the fourteen seasons and 224 games in between (1991–2004), the Bengals' record was 71–153, a 0.317 winning percentage.[1] It would be the Bengals' lone playoff appearance in a span of 18 years (1991–2008). Quarterback Carson Palmer got off to a strong start on his way to a solid 3836-yard season with 32 touchdown passes, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. Receiving many of Palmer's passes was Chad Johnson, who followed teammate Palmer to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, racking up an impressive 1,432 yards in receiving with nine touchdowns, many of which were followed by unique celebrations that made him a regular star on the sports highlight shows.
Following a 42–29 win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals faced the Pittsburgh Steelers, this time in Pittsburgh, where the Bengals offense continued to fly behind Carson Palmer, who had three touchdown passes and 227 yards passing in an impressive 38–31 win that gave the Bengals first place in the AFC North at 9–3. The Bengals would not relinquish first place, winning the next two games to clinch the division with two weeks to go. On December 18, with a 41–17 win over the Detroit Lions, the Bengals clinched a playoff spot.[2] After clinching the division the Bengals played cautiously and dropped their final two games to finish with an 11–5 record, beating out the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, who finished with an identical record, on a tiebreaker situation.[3]
However, a costly loss to the Steelers in the wild card round extended their playoff win drought to 16 years.
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In multiple seasons, from 1991 to 2004, playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, in the regular season, sorted by descending Date.
- ^ Curnette, Mark (December 19, 2005). "Biggest splash of them all". Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on January 3, 2006.
- ^ Season summary and statistics at Sports E Cyclopedia