2003 Cincinnati Bengals season explained

Team:Cincinnati Bengals
Year:2003
Record:8–8
Division Place:2nd AFC North
Coach:Marvin Lewis
Stadium:Paul Brown Stadium
Playoffs:Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers:T Willie Anderson
WR Chad Johnson
Ap All-Pros:WR Chad Johnson (2nd team)
Shortnavlink:Bengals seasons

The 2003 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's 34th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 36th overall, and the first under head coach Marvin Lewis, who replaced Dick LeBeau, who was fired following the 2002 season which the worst season in Bengals history. The Bengals had the first overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft with which they selected 2002 Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer. After a slow start, the Bengals got hot winning at midseason, winning four straight games to stand at 7–5, entering a key Week 14 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens with a chance to win the division. However, in the key showdown for first place the Bengals showed they were not quite ready for primetime as they were beaten 31–13. The Bengals would rebound to win their next game against the San Francisco 49ers, but at 8–6 the Bengals could not get that ninth win, losing their last two games to spoil an effort to earn their first winning season since 1990, finishing at 8–8.[1]

Along with Willie Anderson, Chad Johnson, for the first time in his career, was named to the Pro Bowl at the end of the season.

Offseason

The Bengals lost fullback Lorenzo Neal and linebacker Takeo Spikes in free agency, while signing cornerback Tory James, safety Rogers Beckett, linebacker Kevin Hardy, defensive tackle John Thornton, tight end Reggie Kelly, quarterback Shane Matthews and defensive ends Duane Clemons and Carl Powell.

Additions Subtractions
DT John Thornton (Titans) QB Gus Frerotte (Vikings)
QB Shane Matthews (Redskins) LB Takeo Spikes (Bills)
S Rogers Beckett (Chargers) FB Lorenzo Neal (Chargers)
TE Reggie Kelly (Falcons) QB Akili Smith (Packers)
LB Kevin Hardy (Cowboys) K Neil Rackers (Cardinals)
CB Tory James (Raiders) DE Reinard Wilson (Buccaneers)
DE Duane Clemons (Chiefs) FB Nick Luchey (Packers)
DE Carl Powell (Redskins) DE Eric Ogbogu (Cowboys)
LB Steve Foley (Texans)

NFL Draft

See main article: 2003 NFL draft. [2]

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordKickoff TimeAttendance
1September 7Denver BroncosL 10–300–1CBS 1:00pm63,820
2September 14at Oakland RaidersL 20–230–2CBS 4:15pm50,135
3September 21Pittsburgh SteelersL 10–170–3CBS 1:00pm64,596
4September 28at Cleveland BrownsW 21–141–3CBS 1:00pm73,428
5October 5at Buffalo BillsL 16–221–4CBS 1:00pm72,615
6Bye
7October 19Baltimore RavensW 34–262–4CBS 1:00pm53,553
8October 26Seattle SeahawksW 27–243–4FOX 1:00pm52,131
9November 2at Arizona CardinalsL 14–173–5CBS 4:05pm23,531
10November 9Houston TexansW 34–274–5CBS 1:00pm50,437
11November 16Kansas City ChiefsW 24–195–5CBS 1:00pm64,923
12November 23at San Diego ChargersW 34–276–5CBS 4:15pm52,069
13November 30at Pittsburgh SteelersW 24–207–5CBS 1:00pm58,797
14December 7at Baltimore RavensL 13–317–6CBS 1:00pm69,468
15December 14San Francisco 49ersW 41–388–6FOX 1:00pm64,666
16December 21at St. Louis RamsL 10–278–7CBS 1:00pm66,061
17December 28Cleveland BrownsL 14–228–8CBS 1:00pm65,362

Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text

Standings

Team leaders

Passing

Player Att Comp Yds TD INT Rating
324 520 3591 26 15 87.4

Rushing

Player Att Yds YPC Long TD
215 957 4.5 54 9

Receiving

Player Rec Yds Avg Long TD
90 1355 15.1 82 10

Defensive

Player Tackles Sacks INTs FF FR
124 1.5 0 1 1
63 6.0 0 1 1
60 6.0 0 1 2
68 1.0 4 0 0

Kicking and punting

Player FGA FGM FG% XPA XPM XP% Points
25 22 88.0% 40 40 100.0% 106
Player Punts Yards Long Blkd Avg.
49 1961 58 0 40.0

Special teams

Player KR KRYards KRAvg KRLong KRTD PR PRYards PRAvg PRLong PRTD
53 1146 21.6 46 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
0 0 0.0 0 0 25 273 10.9 68 1

Awards

Milestones

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/cincy/bengals.html Season summary and statistics at Sports E Cyclopedia
  2. Web site: 2003 Cincinnati Bengals draftees . Pro-Football-Reference.com . October 16, 2014 .
  3. Web site: Chad Johnson Stats. .
  4. Web site: Brandon Bennett Stats. .