Michael Hull

In the weeks leading up to training camp, we will look back at a few of the most pivotal seasons in Bengals history. Let's take a journey to the not-so-distant past and look at the 2021 Super Bowl season.

Season Summary

The Bengals finished 10-7 in 2021, claiming the AFC North crown and going on one of the most successful runs in team history.

QB Joe Burrow entered his second season and was joined by his college running mate LSU WR Ja'Marr Chase who was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Cincinnati opened the year with an overtime victory at home against the Minnesota Vikings, as rookie K Evan McPherson nailed a game-winning kick. After beating the Steelers in Pittsburgh in Week 3, the Bengals mounted a comeback victory over the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football in Week 4 to start the season 3-1.

Chase had a breakout performance in a Week 7 win against the Ravens in Baltimore, hauling in eight receptions for 201 yards and a touchdown, his first of two 200-plus yard games his rookie year. The Bengals would sweep Baltimore with a 41-21 victory in Week 15. Burrow threw for a franchise record 525 yards in the game.

In what turned out to be an AFC Championship preview, the Bengals defeated Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Week 17 to clinch the AFC North. Chase's 266 yards set a franchise record for single game receiving yards, and McPherson booted through a game-winning kick to send Cincinnati to the playoffs.

The Bengals hosted the Raiders in the Wild Card round of the AFC Playoffs. A back-and-forth affair that featured eight combined field goals, Cincinnati held a 26-19 lead late in the fourth quarter. Raiders QB Derek Carr drove Las Vegas down the field, getting all the way to the Bengals' 9-yard line. On fourth down, Carr threw over the middle for Zay Jones, but LB Germaine Pratt was waiting. Pratt picked off the pass, clinching Cincinnati's playoff victory.

The top-seeded Tennessee Titans awaited the Bengals in the Divisional round. RB Derrick Henry had dominated defenses all season despite battling injury, rushing for 937 yards in just eight regular season appearances. Cincinnati's defense stepped up, limiting Henry to just over three yards per carry.

Cincinnati held a 10-point lead in the third quarter, but it was quickly erased by the Titans, who tied the game on a touchdown pass from QB Ryan Tannehill to WR A.J. Brown. The Bengals defense shut Tennessee in the fourth quarter, forcing a turnover on downs followed by a pivotal interception by LB Logan Wilson. The turnover gave the Bengals the ball at the Cincinnati 47-yard line. Burrow connected with Chase for 19 yards, setting up McPherson to nail a 52-yard field goal as time expired to send the Bengals to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1988.

The Bengals traveled to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the two-time defending AFC Champion Chiefs. Kansas City jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the first half, but Cincinnati battled back, as Burrow hit RB Samaje Perine for a 41-yard touchdown just before halftime. The Bengals scored 21 unanswered points to take a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter, but Chiefs K Harrison Butker hit a 44-yard attempt to send the game to overtime as time expired.

Kansas City won the toss in overtime and got the ball first, but the Bengals defense made a stand. Mahomes took a deep shot for WR Tyreek Hill but instead found S Vonn Bell. Cincinnati took over around midfield, a field goal away from the Super Bowl. Burrow took command, finding WR Tee Higgins on the drive and relying on the legs of RB Joe Mixon, who tallied 88 rushing yards in the game. Cincinnati drove all the way to the Chiefs' 13-yard line, setting up McPherson for another game-winning kick this time from 31 yards away.

Cincinnati met the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium. The Bengals made splash plays, including two interceptions of QB Matthew Stafford and a 75-yard touchdown to Higgins. They couldn't pull away, though, and Los Angeles scored a go-ahead touchdown with 85 seconds left to win 23-20.

Notables

Burrow was awarded Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year and set Bengals records for yards (4,611), passing touchdowns (34) and passer rating (108.3).

Chase won Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year after one of the most productive rookie seasons in NFL history: The 2024 Triple Crown winner hauled in 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns.

RB Joe Mixon had a career year rushing the football, totaling 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Wilson tied for the NFL lead in interceptions by a linebacker with four, the most by a Bengals LB in 16 years. Free agent acquisition DE Trey Hendrickson tallied what was then the second-most sacks in team history (14), while DE Sam Hubbard recorded 7.5.

McPherson hit five walk-off field goals over the course of the season, hitting 28 field goals on the year, tied for the fourth most in team history. His 58-yard field goal against the Broncos in Denver set a new team record, one he later broke in 2022 when he nailed a 59-yarder against the Steelers.

The Bengals unveiled the "new stripes" uniforms in April 2021, uniting the team's past and future with a fresh and modern design.