The only time an NFL regular season game was canceled mid-play
In short: In 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals' path to the playoffs was interrupted by a medical emergency that rewrote the rulebook. After a dramatic turnaround from a winless start, they faced a unique logistical crisis that left them with an unfinished final week and a historic statistical anomaly.
The 2022 Cincinnati Bengals season was defined by extreme volatility. After starting 0–2—the first time since the 2015 Seattle Seahawks that a team started 0–2 after winning a Super Bowl the previous year—the team underwent a massive turnaround, winning 12 of their final 14 games. This surge propelled them to a franchise-best record of 12–4 and an AFC North title, marking their second consecutive year in the division.
However, the season's conclusion was marred by tragedy. During a Week 17 game against the Buffalo Bills, safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field. With just 5:58 left in the opening quarter, the NFL ruled the match a no-contest; this stands as the sole instance where an active regular season fixture was abandoned without being finished. This left the Bengals at 11–4, depriving them of a chance to secure a two-seed and forcing a high-stakes victory over the Baltimore Ravens (27–16) just to maintain home-field advantage.
The team's offensive identity was anchored by Joe Burrow, who notably improved his personal starting record against Patrick Mahomes to 3–0 during this run. Despite the heartbreak of a late personal foul penalty in the AFC Championship loss to Kansas City (23–20), the season stands as a landmark for the franchise, featuring their first-ever appearance in back-to-back AFC Championship games.
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The Bengals' 2022 campaign marked their 53rd year in the NFL and fourth under Zac Taylor. Having secured 12 of their final 14 matches, they reached a franchise peak of 12–4. Following Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest, the Week 17 Buffalo clash was declared a no-contest, leaving them with 16 games played. They became the first squad since the 2015 Seattle Seahawks to begin 0–2 following a Super Bowl appearance. That specific Buffalo game remains unique in NFL history as a started regular season match that was never completed.
canvas_type-timeline canvas_data-["2022": "Bengals start the season 0–2 against the Steelers and Cowboys.", "c. 2022": "The team improves to 5–4 by Week 5, matching their record from the first nine games of the previous year.", "January 5, 2023": "NFL announces the Buffalo game will not be resumed and is ruled a no-contest.", "c. 2023": "Bengals defeat Baltimore 27–16 to secure home-field advantage for the Wild Card round."]
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2022 Cincinnati Bengals season
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