# 1985 Cincinnati Bengals season

The 1985 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 16th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 18th overall, and their second under head coach Sam Wyche. Wide receiver Isaac Curtis, a premier Bengal for 12 years, retired shortly before training camp opened. Second-year quarterback Boomer Esiason replaced Ken Anderson. The Bengals set a club scoring record with 441 points.

## Offseason
### NFL Draft

1985 Cincinnati Bengals draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 13 | Eddie Brown * | Wide receiver | Miami (FL) |
| 1 | 25 | Emanuel King | Linebacker | Alabama |
| 2 | 43 | Carl Zander | Linebacker | Tennessee |
| 3 | 70 | Sean Thomas | Defensive back | TCU |
| 4 | 97 | Anthony Tuggle | Defensive back | Nicholls State |
| 5 | 127 | Tony Degrate | Defensive tackle | Texas |
| 5 | 129 | Lee Davis | Defensive back | Mississippi |
| 6 | 148 | Eric Stokes | Offensive tackle | Northeastern |
| 6 | 154 | Keith Lester | Tight end | Murray State |
| 7 | 172 | Kim Locklin | Running back | New Mexico State |
| 7 | 181 | Joe Walter | Offensive tackle | Texas Tech |
| 8 | 211 | Dave Strobel | Linebacker | Iowa |
| 9 | 238 | Keith Cruise | Defensive end | Northwestern |
| 10 | 265 | Bernard King | Linebacker | Syracuse |
| 11 | 296 | Harold Stanfield | Tight end | Mississippi College |
| 12 | 322 | Louis Garza | Offensive tackle | New Mexico State |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | September 8 | Seattle Seahawks | L 24–28 | 0–1 | Riverfront Stadium | 51,625 |
| 2 | September 15 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 27–41 | 0–2 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 46,321 |
| 3 | September 22 | San Diego Chargers | L 41–44 | 0–3 | Riverfront Stadium | 52,270 |
| 4 | September 30 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | W 37–24 | 1–3 | Three Rivers Stadium | 59,541 |
| 5 | October 6 | New York Jets | L 20–29 | 1–4 | Riverfront Stadium | 51,785 |
| 6 | October 13 | New York Giants | W 35–30 | 2–4 | Riverfront Stadium | 53,112 |
| 7 | October 20 | at Houston Oilers | L 27–44 | 2–5 | Houston Astrodome | 35,590 |
| 8 | October 27 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 26–21 | 3–5 | Riverfront Stadium | 55,421 |
| 9 | November 3 | at Buffalo Bills | W 23–17 | 4–5 | Rich Stadium | 25,640 |
| 10 | November 10 | Cleveland Browns | W 27–10 | 5–5 | Riverfront Stadium | 57,293 |
| 11 | November 17 | at Los Angeles Raiders | L 6–13 | 5–6 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 52,501 |
| 12 | November 24 | at Cleveland Browns | L 6–24 | 5–7 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 74,439 |
| 13 | December 1 | Houston Oilers | W 45–27 | 6–7 | Riverfront Stadium | 46,140 |
| 14 | December 8 | Dallas Cowboys | W 50–24 | 7–7 | Riverfront Stadium | 56,936 |
| 15 | December 15 | at Washington Redskins | L 24–27 | 7–8 | RFK Stadium | 50,544 |
| 16 | December 22 | at New England Patriots | L 23–34 | 7–9 | Sullivan Stadium | 57,953 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

### Game summaries
#### Week 1

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| Bengals | 0 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
* Date: September 8, 1985
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C), wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
* Game attendance: 51,625
* Referee: Fred Silva
* TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | Seahawks | Bengals |
| 1 | | | | | Seahawks | Byron Walker 28-yard touchdown reception from Dave Krieg, Norm Johnson kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 2 | | | | | Bengals | James Brooks 15-yard touchdown run, Jim Breech kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Seahawks | Daryl Turner 6-yard touchdown reception from Dave Krieg, Norm Johnson kick good | 14 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Seahawks | Charle Young 19-yard touchdown reception from Dave Krieg, Norm Johnson kick good | 21 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Bengals | 22-yard field goal by Jim Breech | 21 | 10 |
| 3 | | | | | Bengals | James Brooks 17-yard touchdown reception from Turk Schonert, Jim Breech kick good | 21 | 17 |
| 3 | | | | | Bengals | Larry Kinnebrew 9-yard touchdown run, Jim Breech kick good | 21 | 24 |
| 4 | | | | | Seahawks | Curt Warner 11-yard touchdown run, Norm Johnson kick good | 28 | 24 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 28 | 21 |

#### Week 2

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals | 7 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 27 |
| Cardinals | 7 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 41 |
at Busch Stadium, St. Louis
* Date: September 15, 1985
* Game time: 1:00pm CST
* Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C), wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
* Game attendance: 46,321
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | Bengals | Cardinals |
| 1 | | | | | Bengals | Stanford Jennings 4-yard touchdown reception from Ken Anderson, Jim Breech kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 1 | | | | | Cardinals | Earl Ferrell 27-yard touchdown reception from Neil Lomax, Neil O'Donoghue kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Bengals | Eddie Brown 44-yard touchdown reception from Ken Anderson, Jim Breech kick good | 14 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Cardinals | Ottis Anderson 1-yard touchdown run, Neil O'Donoghue kick good | 14 | 14 |
| 2 | | | | | Cardinals | 46-yard field goal by Neil O'Donoghue | 14 | 17 |
| 3 | | | | | Cardinals | Roy Green 25-yard touchdown reception from Neil Lomax, Neil O'Donoghue kick good | 14 | 24 |
| 3 | | | | | Bengals | 33-yard field goal by Jim Breech | 17 | 24 |
| 3 | | | | | Cardinals | 49-yard field goal by Neil O'Donoghue | 17 | 27 |
| 4 | | | | | Bengals | 47-yard field goal by Jim Breech | 20 | 27 |
| 4 | | | | | Cardinals | Stump Mitchell 1-yard touchdown run, Neil O'Donoghue kick good | 20 | 34 |
| 4 | | | | | Cardinals | Perry Harrington 1-yard touchdown run, Neil O'Donoghue kick good | 20 | 41 |
| 4 | | | | | Bengals | Larry Kinnebrew 29-yard touchdown reception from Boomer Esiason, Jim Breech kick good | 27 | 41 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 27 | 41 |

#### Week 3

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chargers | 3 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 44 |
| Bengals | 7 | 6 | 21 | 7 | 41 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
* Date: September 22, 1985
* Game time: 1:00pm EST
* Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
* Game attendance: 52,270
* Referee: Gene Barth
* TV announcers (NBC): Bob Stone and Bob Kuechenberg
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | Chargers | Bengals |
| 1 | | | | | Chargers | 20-yard field goal by Bob Thomas | 3 | 0 |
| 1 | | | | | Bengals | Cris Collinsworth 18-yard touchdown reception from Boomer Esiason, Jim Breech kick good | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Chargers | Eric Sievers 4-yard touchdown reception from Dan Fouts, Bob Thomas kick good | 10 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Chargers | Eric Sievers 5-yard touchdown reception from Dan Fouts, Bob Thomas kick good | 17 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Bengals | James Brooks 1-yard touchdown run, Jim Breech kick missed | 17 | 13 |
| 2 | | | | | Chargers | 28-yard field goal by Bob Thomas | 20 | 13 |
| 3 | | | | | Bengals | Cris Collinsworth 16-yard touchdown reception from Boomer Esiason, Jim Breech kick good | 20 | 20 |
| 3 | | | | | Chargers | Pete Holohan 3-yard touchdown reception from Dan Fouts, Bob Thomas kick good | 27 | 20 |
| 3 | | | | | Bengals | Larry Kinnebrew 4-yard touchdown run, Jim Breech kick good | 27 | 27 |
| 3 | | | | | Bengals | Stanford Jennings 11-yard touchdown reception from Boomer Esiason, Jim Breech kick good | 27 | 34 |
| 3 | | | | | Chargers | Lionel James 56-yard touchdown run, Bob Thomas kick good | 34 | 34 |
| 4 | | | | | Bengals | Larry Kinnebrew 8-yard touchdown run, Jim Breech kick good | 34 | 41 |
| 4 | | | | | Chargers | Lionel James 60-yard touchdown reception from Dan Fouts, Bob Thomas kick good | 41 | 41 |
| 4 | | | | | Chargers | 34-yard field goal by Bob Thomas | 44 | 41 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 44 | 41 |

#### Week 4

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bengals | 0 | 14 | 7 | 16 | 37 |
| Steelers | 0 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 24 |

#### Week 6

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 0 | 3 | 17 | 10 | 30 |
| • Bengals | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |

#### Week 8

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| Bengals | 3 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 26 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
* Date: October 27, 1985
* Game time: 4:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), wind 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h; 3.5 kn)
* Game attendance: 55,241
* Referee: Bob McElwee
* TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | Steelers | Bengals |
| 1 | | | | | Bengals | 37-yard field goal by Jim Breech | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | | | | | Bengals | Rodney Holman 11-yard touchdown reception from Boomer Esiason, Jim Breech kick good | 0 | 10 |
| 2 | | | | | Bengals | Interception returned 57 yards for touchdown by Robert Jackson, Jim Breech kick good | 0 | 17 |
| 2 | | | | | Steelers | Louis Lipps 49-yard touchdown reception from David Woodley, Gary Anderson kick good | 7 | 17 |
| 3 | | | | | Bengals | 39-yard field goal by Jim Breech | 7 | 20 |
| 3 | | | | | Bengals | 40-yard field goal by Jim Breech | 7 | 23 |
| 3 | | | | | Bengals | 32-yard field goal by Jim Breech | 7 | 26 |
| 4 | | | | | Steelers | Louis Lipps 62-yard punt return for touchdown | 14 | 26 |
| 4 | | | | | Steelers | Walter Abercrombie 1-yard touchdown run, Gary Anderson kick good | 21 | 26 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 21 | 26 |

### Standings

AFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Cleveland Browns$^{(3)}$ | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–2 | 7–5 | 287 | 294 | L1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 5–7 | 441 | 437 | L2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3–3 | 6–6 | 379 | 355 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | 284 | 412 | L4 |

## Team leaders
### Passing

| Player | Att | Comp | Yds | TD | INT | Rating |
| Boomer Esiason | 431 | 251 | 3443 | 27 | 12 | 92.3 |

### Rushing

| Player | Att | Yds | YPC | Long | TD |
| James Brooks | 192 | 929 | 4.8 | 39 | 7 |
| Larry Kinnebrew | 170 | 714 | 4.2 | 29 | 9 |

### Receiving

| Player | Rec | Yds | Avg | Long | TD |
| Cris Collinsworth | 65 | 1125 | 17.3 | 71 | 5 |
| James Brooks | 55 | 576 | 10.3 | 57 | 5 |
| Eddie Brown | 53 | 942 | 17.8 | 68 | 8 |

### Defensive

| Player | Tackles | Sacks | INTs | FF | FR |
| Tim Krumrie | 96 | 3.5 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Ross Browner | 63 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| James Griffin | 55 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 1 |

### Kicking and punting

| Player | FGA | FGM | FG% | XPA | XPM | XP% | Points |
| Jim Breech | 33 | 24 | 72.7% | 50 | 48 | 96.0 | 120 |
| Player | Punts | Yards | Long | Blkd | Avg. |
| Pat McInally | 57 | 2410 | 64 | 1 | 42.3 |

### Special teams

| Player | KR | KRYards | KRAvg | KRLong | KRTD | PR | PRYards | PRAvg | PRLong | PRTD |
| Mike Martin | 48 | 1104 | 23.0 | 45 | 0 | 32 | 268 | 8.4 | 26 | 0 |

## Awards and honors

* Anthony Muñoz, AFC Pro Bowl selection