How a second-year quarterback ended the NFL's longest playoff win drought
In short: After decades of struggle, the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals defied the odds. Led by a rising star, the team shattered long-standing losing streaks, secured their first division title in years, and embarked on an improbable run all the way to the Super Bowl.
The 2021 season marked a dramatic pivot for the Cincinnati Bengals. Entering their 52nd NFL season, the team achieved a 10–7 regular-season record, a significant leap from their previous two years combined. This resurgence saw the franchise capture its first AFC North title and secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2015. The roster also saw notable changes, including the absence of A. J. Green, who was not on the opening day roster for the first time since 2010.
The postseason run was defined by breaking historical droughts. In the wild-card round, the Bengals defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 26–19, marking their first playoff victory since 1990 and ending the longest playoff win drought in the NFL. After securing their initial road victory by beating the top-seeded Tennessee Titans 19–16 during the divisional round, they triumphed over the second-seeded Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in an overtime contest. This comeback, which erased an 18-point deficit, matched a record set by the 2006 Indianapolis Colts.
At the center of this success was quarterback Joe Burrow. Since Russell Wilson in 2013, no second-year quarterback had attained a Super Bowl appearance until he did, marking the first No. 1-overall pick to achieve the feat within his first two seasons. Although the Bengals ultimately fell 23–20 to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI, the season remains a landmark in franchise history, representing their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2021 Cincinnati Bengals season
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