2008 Cincinnati Bengals season The 2008 Cincinnati Bengals season was the 39th season for the team in the National Football League and their 41st overall season . The team finished the season with 4 wins , 11 losses , and 1 tie , and did not qualify for the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year . Offseason . Coaching changes . This season marked head coach Marvin Lewis ' s sixth year with the Bengals . His offensive coordinator , Bob Bratkowski , remained with the team , but his defensive coordinator from 2007 – 08 , Chuck Bresnahan , was not retained . He was replaced by Mike Zimmer and Jeff FitzGerald replaced Ricky Hunley as linebacker coach . Season theme . Typically Lewis has had a theme for the upcoming season for the team to rally around . For the 2008 season it was " Now " 2008 NFL Draft . The Bengals gained an additional 4 picks for compensation of losing certain players . The Bengals are expected to draft a defensive tackle high in the draft , specifically Regular season results . Week 1 : at Baltimore Ravens . Starter , Dexter Jackson , was inactive due to injury . The Bengals began their 2008 campaign on the road against their AFC North foe , the Baltimore Ravens . In the first quarter , Cincinnati trailed early as Ravens WR Mark Clayton turned a double reverse play into a 42 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , the Bengals continued to struggle as kicker Matt Stover gave Baltimore a 21 - yard field goal . Cincinnati would reply as kicker Shayne Graham nailed a 43 - yard field goal . However , in the third quarter , the Bengals continued to show their dismal defense as Ravens QB Joe Flacco got a 38 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , the Bengals tried to rally as CB Johnathan Joseph returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown . However , Baltimore ' s defense stiffened and held on for the win . With the loss , Cincinnati began their season at 0 – 1 . Week 2 : vs . Tennessee Titans . Starter Dexter Jackson was inactive for the game due to injury . Hoping to rebound from their divisional road loss to the Ravens , the Bengals played their Week 2 home opener against the Tennessee Titans . At the beginning of the game the winds were marked at 20 mph and picked up intensity as the game continued , with gusts to hurricane force at times due to the passage of the remnants of Hurricane Ike . After a scoreless first quarter , Cincinnati trailed as Titans RB LenDale White got a 1 - yard TD run . The Bengals would respond with RB Chris Perry getting his first career TD on a 13 - yard run . However , Tennessee would begin its domination with QB Kerry Collins completing an 11 - yard TD pass to WR Justin Gage . In the third quarter , Cincinnati continued to struggle as kicker Rob Bironas nailed a 34 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , the Titans sealed the win with LB Keith Bulluck blocking and recovering a punt within Cincy ' s endzone for a touchdown . During the game , the wind was such a factor that it aided the Titan ' s punter who , with a quick 1 - step drop , kicked a punt travelling 70 yards past scrimmage before hitting the ground . It appeared to contribute to difficulties with short passes and long snaps . With the loss , the Bengals fell to 0 – 2 . Week 3 : at New York Giants . Starters Ben Utecht , Johnathan Joseph , & Dexter Jackson , were inactive for the game due to injuries . Trying to snap their two - game losing skid , the Bengals flew to Giants Stadium for a Week 3 interconference duel with the defending Super Bowl champions , the New York Giants . In the first quarter , Cincinnati scratched first with kicker Shayne Graham getting a 22 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Giants responded with RB Brandon Jacobs getting a 1 - yard TD run . The Bengals would strike back with RB Chris Perry getting a 25 - yard TD run . New York tied the game with kicker John Carney getting a 24 - yard field goal , yet Cincinnati would close out the half with Graham ' s 30 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Giants would tie the game with Carney kicking a 46 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , New York would take the lead with Carney ' s 26 - yard field goal . The Bengals would reclaim its lead with QB Carson Palmer completing a 17 - yard TD pass to WR T . J . Houshmandzadeh . The Giants responded with QB Eli Manning completing a 4 - yard TD pass to TE Kevin Boss , yet Cincinnati tied the game with Graham ' s 21 - yard field goal . However , in overtime , New York came out on top as Carney nailing the game - winning 22 - yard field goal . With the loss , the Bengals fell to 0 – 3 as they prepared to face the Cleveland Browns the next game who were also 0 – 3 . Week 4 : vs . Cleveland Browns . Still searching for their first win , the Bengals went home for a Week 4 AFC North duel with the Cleveland Browns in Round 1 of 2008 ' s Battle of Ohio . With QB Carson Palmer out with a sore right elbow , back - up QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was named the starter . In the first quarter , Cincinnati trailed early as Browns kicker Phil Dawson got a 25 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Bengals took the lead with kicker Shayne Graham getting a 42 - yard and a 45 - yard field goal . After a scoreless third quarter , Cleveland regained the lead in the fourth quarter with QB Derek Anderson completing a 4 - yard TD pass to WR Braylon Edwards , along with RB Jamal Lewis getting a 1 - yard TD run . Cincinnati would respond with Fitzpatrick completing a 4 - yard TD pass to WR Chad Ocho Cinco , yet the Browns pulled away with Dawson nailing a 29 - yard field goal . With yet another loss , the Bengals fell to 0 – 4 while the Browns improved to 1 – 3 . Week 5 : at Dallas Cowboys . Still searching for their first win , the Bengals flew to Texas Stadium for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Dallas Cowboys . In the first quarter , Cincinnati trailed early as Cowboys kicker Nick Folk got a 30 - yard field goal , along with RB Felix Jones getting a 33 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , Dallas increased its lead as QB Tony Romo completed a 4 - yard TD pass to TE Jason Witten . The Bengals would end the half with kicker Shayne Graham getting a 41 - yard and a 31 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Cincinnati tried to rally as QB Carson Palmer completed an 18 - yard TD pass to WR T . J . Houshmandzadeh . In the fourth quarter , the Bengals got closer as Graham got a 40 - yard field goal , yet the Cowboys answered with Romo completing a 57 - yard TD pass to WR Terrell Owens . Cincinnati tried to come back as Palmer completed a 10 - yard TD pass to Houshmandzadeh ( with a failed 2 - point conversion ) , but Dallas pulled away with Romo completing a 15 - yard TD pass to WR Patrick Crayton . With the loss , the Bengals fell to 0 – 5 . Week 6 : at New York Jets . Still looking for their first win , the Bengals flew to The Meadowlands for a Week 6 duel with the throwback - clad New York Jets . With QB Carson Palmer out again nursing an injured elbow , QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was again named the starter . In the first quarter , Cincinnati pounced first as strong safety Chinedum Ndukwe returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown . The Jets responded with QB Brett Favre completing a 2 - yard TD pass to RB Thomas Jones . In the second quarter , New York took the lead as kicker Jay Feely got a 38 - yard field goal , while Jones got a 7 - yard TD run . The Bengals closed out the half with Fitzpatrick getting a 1 - yard TD run . In the third quarter , the Jets began to pull away as Feely got a 43 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , New York sealed the win as Jones got a 1 - yard TD run ( with a failed 2 - point conversion ) . With the loss , Cincinnati fell to 0 – 6 . Week 7 : vs . Pittsburgh Steelers . Still searching for their first win of the season , the Bengals went home for a Week 7 AFC North duel with the Pittsburgh Steelers . With Carson Palmer still out with a sore elbow , QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was given the start . In the first quarter , Cincinnati trailed early as Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger completed a 2 - yard TD pass to RB Mewelde Moore , along with kicker Jeff Reed getting a 21 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Bengals answered with Fitzpatrick completing a 5 - yard TD pass to WR Chad Ocho Cinco . In the third quarter , Pittsburgh responded with Moore getting a 13 - yard TD run . Cincinnati would respond with kicker Dave Rayner nailing a 26 - yard field goal . However , in the fourth quarter , the Steelers pulled away with Roethlisberger completing a 50 - yard TD pass to WR Nate Washington , Moore getting a 2 - yard TD run , and QB Byron Leftwich completing a 16 - yard TD pass to WR Hines Ward . Earlier in the game , Ward destroyed Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers with a vicious legal hit , breaking Rivers ' jaw . With the loss , Cincinnati dropped to 0 – 7 . Week 8 : at Houston Texans . Still trying to acquire their first win of the season , the Bengals flew to Reliant Stadium for a Week 8 duel with the Houston Texans . In the first quarter , Cincinnati ' s struggles continued as Texans WR Jacoby Jones returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown . The Bengals responded with kicker Shayne Graham getting a 43 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , Houston increased its lead as QB Matt Schaub completed a 6 - yard TD pass to WR David Anderson . Cincinnati closed out the half with Graham nailing a 32 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Texans began to pull away as Schaub completed a 7 - yard and a 39 - yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter . In the fourth quarter , Houston sealed the win with RB Steve Slaton getting a 20 - yard TD run . With yet another loss , the Bengals fell to 0 – 8 . Week 9 : vs . Jacksonville Jaguars . Still looking for their first win of the season , the Bengals went home , donned their alternate uniforms , and played a Week 9 duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars . In the first quarter , Cincinnati clawed first as QB Ryan Fitzpatrick completed a 2 - yard TD pass to WR Chad Ocho Cinco . In the second quarter , the Bengals increased their lead as Fitzpatrick hooked up with Ocho Cinco again on a 10 - yard TD pass . The Jaguars would end the half on kicker Josh Scobee ' s 52 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Cincinnati continued its hot streak as RB Cedric Benson got a 7 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , Jacksonville began to rally as Scobee nailed a 26 - yard field goal , FB Montell Owens returned the fumbled kickoff 18 yards for a touchdown , and RB Maurice Jones - Drew got a 1 - yard TD pass . Fortunately , the Bengals ' defense prevented the Jaguars from getting the 2 - point conversion , allowing Cincinnati to finally get its first win of the season . With the win , not only did the Bengals go into their bye week at 1 – 8 , the win also made the Lions the only winless NFL team . Week 11 : vs . Philadelphia Eagles . Coming off their bye week , the Bengals stayed at home for a Week 11 interconference duel with the Philadelphia Eagles . After a scoreless first quarter , Cincinnati pounced as kicker Shayne Graham got a 20 - yard field goal . The Eagles responded as kicker David Akers got a 42 - yard field goal . The Bengals would close out the half as QB Ryan Fitzpatrick completed a 26 - yard TD pass to WR T . J . Houshmandzadeh . In the third quarter , Cincinnati increased their lead as Graham got a 41 - yard field goal . Philadelphia answered with QB Donovan McNabb completing a 4 - yard TD pass to TE L . J . Smith . In the fourth quarter , the Eagles tied the game with Aker nailing a 27 - yard field goal . In overtime , both teams had opportunities for game - winning scores , yet both defenses kept them down . With the tie , the Bengals improved to 1 – 8 – 1 . This was the first game to end in a tie in the NFL since 2002 , when the Atlanta Falcons played the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 34 – 34 tie . Week 12 : at Pittsburgh Steelers . Coming off their tie with the Eagles , the Bengals flew to Heinz Field for a Week 12 AFC North rematch with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football . Prior to the game , it was announced that due to arriving at a team meeting 45 minutes late and arguing with head coach Marvin Lewis , WR Chad Ocho Cinco was deactivated for the game . In the first quarter , Cincinnati struck first as QB Ryan Fitzpatrick completed a 10 - yard TD pass to WR Glenn Holt . In the second quarter , the Steelers took the lead as QB Ben Roethlisberger completed a 3 - yard TD pass to TE Heath Miller , along with kicker Jeff Reed getting a 37 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Pittsburgh increased its lead as Reed made a 38 - yard field goal , along with RB Gary Russell getting a 2 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , the Bengals tried to rally as kicker Shayne Graham nailed a 26 - yard field goal . However , the Steelers pulled away with Roethlisberger ' s 8 - yard TD run . With the loss , Cincinnati fell to 1 – 9 – 1 . It was also the Bengals ' 332nd loss since the originating of the AFC - NFC format in 1970 , temporarily tying them with the New York Jets for the most all - time losses among AFC teams . Week 13 : vs . Baltimore Ravens . Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Steelers , the Bengals went home for a Week 13 AFC North rematch with the Baltimore Ravens . In the first quarter , Cincinnati trailed early as Ravens kicker Matt Stover made a 27 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , Baltimore increased its lead as Stover got a 21 - yard field goal , along with QB Joe Flacco completing a 4 - yard TD pass to TE Todd Heap . The Bengals would close out the half as kicker Shayne Graham nailed a 21 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Ravens pulled away as WR Mark Clayton completed a 32 - yard TD pass to WR Derrick Mason and caught a 70 - yard TD pass from Flacco . In the fourth quarter , Baltimore pulled away as safety Jim Leonhard returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown . With the loss , not only did Cincinnati fall to 1 – 10 – 1 . They surpassed their 2007 loss total and were swept by the Ravens for the first time since 2002 . Week 14 : at Indianapolis Colts . Trying to rebound from back - to - back divisional losses , the Bengals flew to Lucas Oil Stadium for a Week 14 duel with the Indianapolis Colts . In the first quarter , Cincinnati trailed as Colts RB Dominic Rhodes got a 17 - yard TD run . The Bengals would answer in the second quarter as kicker Shayne Graham nailed a 19 - yard field goal , but Indianapolis answered right back with QB Peyton Manning completing a 5 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marvin Harrison . Manning would help the Colts pull away in the third quarter with a 2 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez and a 4 - yard touchdown pass to TE Dallas Clark . Indianapolis would seal the game in the fourth quarter as CB Kelvin Hayden returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown . With the loss , Cincinnati fell to 1 – 11 – 1 . Week 16 : at Cleveland Browns . Coming off their home win over the Redskins , the Bengals flew to Cleveland Browns Stadium for Round 2 of 2008 ' s Battle of Ohio with the Cleveland Browns . Cincinnati would get the lead in the first quarter as cornerback Leon Hall returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown which was his first interception of the year . Hall also intercepted two other passes giving him 3 total in the game . RB Cedric Benson carried the ball for a career high 38 times for a career high 171 yards . The Bengals would then add onto their lead in the second quarter as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick completed a 20 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Henry . From there on out , the defense prevented Cleveland from getting any kind of momentum . With the win , the Bengals improved to 3 – 11 – 1 . Week 17 : vs . Kansas City Chiefs . Coming off their divisional road win over the Browns , the Bengals went home , donned their alternate uniforms again , and closed out their season with a Week 17 duel with the Kansas City Chiefs . Cincinnati would get the first punch in the first quarter as kicker Shayne Graham got a 38 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , the Bengals would increase their lead as running back Cedric Benson got a 2 - yard touchdown run , followed by Graham ' s 30 - yard field goal . After a scoreless third quarter , Cincinnati wrapped up its dominating day with Graham ' s 43 - yard field goal . The Chiefs would respond with quarterback Tyler Thigpen completing a 5 - yard touchdown pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez ( with a failed 2 - point conversion ) . With the win , the Bengals finished their season at 4 – 11 – 1 .