1976 Bengals Highlights

[@schmitty139]

Even though they played on astro turf..I loved football back then. Great memories in the seventies 🐅

[@jackprecip5389]

Bengals and Cardinals both went 10-4 in '76 and missed the playoffs. Other teams in the 70's (like the Dolphins the following year in '77) also missed the playoffs going 10-4. Now, teams can go 7-9 and make the postseason.

[@Jiltedin2007]

And how about the year before(1975)? While the Bengals got the Wild Card spot that year, both the Houston Oilers and Miami Dolphins finished 1975 with identical 10-4 Records and out of the playoffs.

[@Jiltedin2007]

It also depends on the division they play in. When you’re in the weakest division in the NFL, like “Washington Football Team”(Who will always be the Redskins to me), as the division champion at 7-9, yes it’s very much possible. After all, if you are the division champion, that’s an automatic berth in any sport in the playoffs!

[@Jiltedin2007]

@@conlanding The two teams that reached the Wild Card in 1986 also had 10-6 records being the Jets and Kansas City. Explain to me how did the Jets and Kansas City get the nod over Seattle and Cincinnati for the Wild Card berths?

[@G50-o5w]

The snow game against the Steelers is one of the first I remember watching. With no Bradshaw, the elements worked right into Pittsburgh's favor for a ball control, run oriented defensive struggle.

[@romelovesdan]

Cover of SI too, right?

[@jackprecip5389]

I remember watching that game live on TV as a kid (and a big Bengals fan), it was a late 4pm start, and the first half it was daylight, the field was clear, and there wasn't a single snow flurry. The Bengals dominated the first half, but missed scoring chances and only led 3-0. Then, by the time the second half started, it was the dark of night under the lights, the field had tons of snow on it, and the air was thick with constant falling flakes. I've never seen before or since a 20 minute barrage of snow like that during a football game.

[@whataboutrob442]

Those uniforms are awesome!

[@vicepresidentmikepence889]

Lol, you're joking right? "BENGALS"🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@CoreyT127]

Yeah they were pretty dope.

[@vicepresidentmikepence889]

@GIL Favor Never said they weren't a good team, but those uniforms were BORING. It's no surprise, they changed the uniform

[@haroldmccoy6748]

@@vicepresidentmikepence889 👍💯 agree, the current unis are excellent.

[@whataboutrob442]

@@Akronkangaroo Paul Brown did that on purpose.

[@Jiltedin2007]

In the game the Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Raiders at Oakland, on Monday Night Football, the Raiders knew that if they lost that game they could permanently put the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the Playoffs. But the Raiders said "Screw that!" and kicked ass over the Bengals because they wanted the Steelers one more time as those Raiders beat the pants out of those Steelers in the AFC Championship Game played at Oakland.

[@BrianPDowning]

Thanks for uploading this! Best non-playoff team in Bengals history, and one of the best teams in NFL history not to make the post season.

[@matthewbrotman2907]

The game against the Jets was the first NFL game I ever went to. The catch at 22:00 was right in front of me.

[@ronsmac]

Interesting placement. In between all the 1977 stuff.

[@comradedobler3407]

Actually, I'll be throwing 1976 video highlights in for a while between the 1978 season stuff. The REAL placement is in my playlists for each season, not the absolute order in which I upload videos, which depends on when I have the time to get to the videos, how much I have to edit them before they are uploaded, how long each upload takes, etc., although I try to unleash the seasons in order. I started doing the team highlights as an afterthought when someone requested the 1977 Dolphins. I intend to be uploading as usual all the way to around the 1984 season but also gradually adding what highlights I have for previous seasons and putting those in the appropriate playlists going way back into the sixties.

[@michaelleroy9281]

A fitting score for a snow game 7-3

[@ericbush3399]

What was the thing Coach Johnson was talking into? It looked just like a modern (small) cell phone, but that was impossible in 1976. My first cell phone was in 1991 and it was the size of a 🧱 brick.

[@1983jblack]

Paul Brown never admitted he was wrong to not hire Bill Walsh as head coach after he retired. He always considered Walsh a threat to him for whatever reason and tried to blackball him in the NFL

[@jasonmikolajewski2653]

Walsh repaid him in full in the only two Super Bowls the Bengals ever made.

[@haroldmccoy6748]

@@jasonmikolajewski2653 karma

[@jasonmikolajewski2653]

@@haroldmccoy6748 certainly was. Funny that my year old comment is no longer valid since the Super Bowl.

[@tonyjohnson221]

Bill walsh was not ready. He had to work as an offensive coordinator for Chargers and college head coach after he left cincinnati before one of the worst nfl franchises at the time was willing to give him a shot. Walsh was always brilliant but even when he was winning super bowls his players did not particularly like or trust him outside of trusting that he was brilliant and wanted to win. Tiger Johnson was a great coach and any one who played for him will tell you he was deserving of the head coaching position at the time. He was a better strategist than people think and was an excellent motivator. He specifically contributed to developing proper technique on screen passes and setting up play action passes in split-back sets. He was organized. Players loved him. He did not have quite as talented an offensive roster in Cincinnati as Bill would have in San Fran with Montana and Rice.... don't be ridiculous. In Walshs books he credits himself with identifying greatness in montana and rice but he recognizes he may not have won super bowls without them (especially rice). Bill Walsh even admits in his books the west coast offense was not some genius invention by him. It was the collaborative cumulative strategy employed by Paul Brown, Bill Walsh, and Tiger Johnson in cincinnati. In the words of Paul Brown "it was just what we did" to win games at the time, based on what their players were good at those seasons. Walsh's contribution as an individual was specifically acquiring talent that fit into the west coast scheme and maximizing its potential to spectacular heights for which he deserves the credit. Walsh is deserving of his status as a head coach and innovator of the game, truly one of its finest coaches, but it's a stretch to make it a foregone conclusion that Bill walsh would have won super bowls in Cincinnati without Montana and Rice a half decade before he was given a shot by another, lesser nfl franchise.

[@tonyjohnson221]

@Coogan he was to offensive coordinator for the chargers

[@forensicaccountant259]

Question for ANYONE: There is an episode of NFL FILMS, where it was noted that a certain defensive lineman was so fast, quote: "He beat the BALL off the ball." I don't remember who it was. HELP!

[@jackprecip5389]

At 10:07, could this be the worst kickoff coverage by a kicking team in the history of the NFL?

[@SingleTax]

Easily the best team in the AFC not to make the playoffs that season.

[@romelovesdan]

Only losses were to other AFC playoff teams, PITT, BALT, OAK.

[@johannesswillery7855]

Boobie Clark is my favorite player ever!

[@williambechmann6547]

Ken Anderson and Ken Riley should be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio!

[@dantheman5745]

Absolutely.

[@danyluk1]

Anderson a very good player, not dominant. I put him in same class as Bert Jones and Archie Manning.

[@russellseilhamer4552]

A thousand percent agreed

[@1983jblack]

@@danyluk1 Anderson was a better passer than Jones and much better than Archie Manning. He deserves a spot in Canton much like Dan Fouts has a spot

[@1983jblack]

I'm not a Bengals fan but yeah, they both should be in, especially Kenny Anderson

[@arthurbishop3173]

The piano music at the beginning (in the snow) is haunting-LOVE it....reminds me of the 'Halloween' theme, before it even came out.

[@JoshZepnick]

Keep the filth of horror movies away from this gold mine of a highlight film

[@tmartin8888]

I thought the exact same thing.

[@johnmanier7968]

The 1976 Bengals were a hard-luck team. Their only losses were against the top AFC teams---2 to Pittsburgh and 1 each to Baltimore and Oakland. The snow game against the Steelers was their only home defeat.

[@howardcosell2022]

Their playoff game was at Oakland in prime time

[@russellseilhamer4552]

Coy Bacons NFL record of 26 sacks in 1976 unofficially. Is Bacon HOF worthy?

[@forensicaccountant259]

DEFINITELY

[@forensicaccountant259]

And at 34 years of age!

[@kevinlandess3656]

Coy bacon. Hof ?? Mmmmm no. Lemar Parrish and Ken Riley mmmm yes!

[@forensicaccountant259]

@@kevinlandess3656 Pre-1982 unofficial sack totals have been floating around for years, but Pro Football Reference has taken the giant step of putting those totals from 1960 through 1981 on their website. John Turney of Pro Football Journal has been renowned for his work in this regard (Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman pointed out Turney’s work a long time ago), and it’s Turney’s work, along with that of Nick Webster, both members of the Professional Football Researchers Association, that has cleared the gap. This new information presents quite the alternate history of pro football. All-time greats like Deacon Jones, Jack Youngblood, Alan Page, and Jim Marshall finally get their due, and lesser-known names like Al “Bubba” Baker (who now holds the single-season sack record with 23.0 in 1978), Coy Bacon, and Elvin Bethea find their profiles where they always should have been - right up there with the all-timers.

[@forensicaccountant259]

Undrafted free agent, 1967. 3-time Pro Bowler. It took a while for Lander McCoy Bacon to find his home in pro football, and it clearly wasn’t going to be in Texas. Bacon tried out for the Houston Oilers in 1964 but was released when it was discovered that he had not graduated from Jackson State. After a few cups of coffee in the Continental Football League, Bacon landed on the Cowboys’ practice squad in 1967. But he wasn’t a great fit, as he was a “pin your ears back” pass rusher, and Dallas’ flex defense demanded more discipline. Dallas traded him to the Rams in 1968 for a fifth-round pick, and Bacon saw some time on the “Fearsome Foursome” front due to injuries to defensive tackle Roger Brown, and end Lamar Lundy’s retirement. Bacon played at a Pro Bowl level for the Rams in 1971 and 1972, kicking inside at times when Los Angeles featured a three-DE speed-rush package. But in 1973, the Rams traded Bacon and running back Bob Thomas to the Chargers for quarterback John Hadl. Among the reasons for the trade was that new head coach Chuck Knox thought Bacon didn’t play the run well enough, which is like trading in your Ferrari for a used pickup truck because your Ferrari won’t tow anything. But it was after Bacon was traded to the Bengals for receiver Charlie Joiner that he really went off at a historic level. In 1976, Bacon had 21.5 sacks, which would have been the NFL record until Mark Gastineau had 22 sacks in 1984. Bacon also had 15 sacks in 1979 and 11 in 1980 for Washington, at ages 37 and 38. From 1970 through 1979, only Cedrick Hardman (more on him in a minute) had more sacks (108.0) than Bacon’s 107.5.

[@ShawnC.T.]

I remember as a kid being crushed when this team faltered at the end of the 1976 season, failing to make the playoffs, as this was their best team in the history of the franchise up until this point...

[@romelovesdan]

Long 'Lost" classic Team film....Bravo, Sir Comrade.

[@J78618]

This team could have been in the Super Bowl against the Vikings and Cincinnati could have won it all

[@stanblanton7798]

Paul Brown built a very good team for such a young franchise. The ability to evaluate and develop talent by Brown is really over looked. If not for being in a division with the Steelers Dynasty, they likely dominate other divisions and win a SB. After Brown retired, the team dropped severely in '77-'80

[@haroldmccoy6748]

I Respectfully disagree my fellow NFL fan, what conference power were they going to vanquish if seeded in a different division ? Early 70's Colts , Dolphins , mid 70's Steelers ,early to mid 70',s Raiders ? The Bengals were dispatched by the Colts Dolphins ,Raiders ,in post season ,and couldn't supplant the SB winning era , dynasty Steelers for the division ,never won a post season game, thus that dismisses any notion of those 70's Paull Brown Bengals team's capacity during that era of winning a SB . They eventually were going to run into one of those juggernauts and get dispatched .What division were they going to dominate ,the ultra competitive AFC east with the Dolphins , Colts ,Bills and Patriots teams making post season at least once from 70-79 ? I have to disagree with your analysis upon that notion of the Bengals dominating another AFC conference division as well .

[@stanblanton7798]

@@haroldmccoy6748 Stand by what I said. This was a very young franchise at the time. Made the playoffs in their 3rd year existence. The AFC at that time dominated the NFL. Went 11-3 in '75, 10-4 in '76 and didn't even make the playoffs. They were over looked because the Steelers were so dominant. They held their own against Pittsburgh.

[@haroldmccoy6748]

@@stanblanton7798 Not validated facts to substantiate a subjective claim ,the youth and talent isn't the question, holding their own vs the Steelers dosent translate to winning a division over them ,,the objective assessment of the Bengals achieving the stellar goal of dominating another division and winning a SB is the question . Facts,they lost in post season to the Colts Dolphins ,Raiders ,weren't capable of beating the Steelers for the central division ,even when the Steelers were vulnerable because of internal team strife and over confidence after capturing consecutive SB Championships . I respect your opinion, but it lacks objectivity , what particularly year during Paul Browns tenure with the team were they going to dominate another division and capture a SB ,it certainly wasn't any year from 1970 to 76 ,those 1976 Bengals lost to the Division winning Colts at memorial stadium during reg season 28-27 ,a typical playoff atmosphere climate game ,with all the marbles onthe line " potential conference seeding" against a playoff caliber team ,the Bengals ultimately lose to . The 1977 Bengals weren't winning any division within the AFC conference , 77 West champ Broncos beat them 24 -13 at Riverfront stadium.The facts are proven by the playoff loses they were the victim of during those years . I respect your opinion,but it lacks context ,nothing of weight to hold it down ,no concrete evidence to give it substance . 70 Colts,71/72/73 Dolphins ,74/75 Steelers,76 Raiders ,who were the Bengals defeating ?Peace , ✌️ have a blessed day .

[@stanblanton7798]

@@haroldmccoy6748 I ain't reading that novel. We disagree.

[@howardcosell2022]

Don Shula did a better job during a similar timeline taking over Miami

[@danyluk1]

never seen this before! excellent post!

[@romelovesdan]

That's saying something! This was an elusive one for me too!

[@1983jblack]

One of their top 5 teams of all time

[@1USACitizen192]

Looked like the Steelers crushed them twice.

[@dantheman5745]

So winning a game 7-3 is "crushing" to you? Mkay. Fanboy alert.

[@1USACitizen192]

@@dantheman5745 The score wasnt as close to the beating the bengals received. The next week the Raiders tried to let bengal win but bengal too beat up, still lose, thanks to steeler mashing.

[@1983jblack]

@@dantheman5745 Imma Steeler fan and even I know Cincinnati was a serious threat in 1975-76. People like that person gives Steeler fans a bad name. Pittsburgh won the snow game by getting a key turnover and cashing in on a short field. The first meeting the Steelers won because their 'D' finally woke up and they fed Franco Harris the ball 41 times since Bradshaw was out. Also the Raiders did not ease up to give the Bengals a chance to win, they played to win....period. They have no idea what they're talking about

[@dantheman5745]

@@1983jblack Yep, you're exactly right. The Raiders knew that if they lost on that Monday night to Cincinnati, Pittsburgh would've been eliminated. But they were so confident, they weren't going to lay down for anyone, for any reason. I think they actually WANTED Pittsburgh. So they played their best, and the Bengals just couldn't hang with them. The snow rolling in for the 2nd half of the Steelers-Bengals game was huge. That was Cincinnati's chance to clinch the division, but the weather negated the advantage they had at QB with Bradshaw out. That 4th quarter turnover was the one mistake Cincinnati couldn't afford to make. But what an epic game. Everything on the line, and a snow-covered field as night fell. Pittsburgh & Minnesota just seemed to know how to win those games. What is insane about the Steelers in '76 is that after starting 1-4, they only allowed 2 touchdowns the rest of the regular season. Other than Cincinnati, none of the teams they faced had winning records, but still, they were all NFL teams. (except maybe Tampa Bay, who was basically a beer league team) That's incredible. IMO, there's the '76 Steelers and the '85 Bears, when it comes to defenses. Those D's had the other team beat before they even took the field.

[@rogergriffith3647]

Gotta love nfl films cincinatti. Vs Pitt in the snow good times

[@J78618]

If the Bengals used Archie the right way he could have been one of the Bengals greats

[@chriszito334]

Wow what team!!!!.Bill Walsh would have won 3 rings with the talent they had!!!

[@tonyjohnson221]

Bill walsh was not ready

[@chriszito334]

@@tonyjohnson221 Actually Paul Brown thought Walsh was too emotional of a person to coach the team