Redskins vs. Bengals History, Anecdotes, and Fan Memories

[kleese]

--Series is tied 4-4

--Redskins have only played the Ravens, Texans, and Jaguars fewer times than the Bengals

--Of the teams that have been existence since the merger in 1970, the Bengals are tied with the Chiefs for fewest meeting with the Redskins with 8

--Redskins have won 3 of the 4 meetings at home and lost 3 of the 4 meetings in Cincy. Our lone win in Cincinnati came in 1991; the Bengals only win in DC came in their last trip in 2004

--Redskins won the first meeting in 1970, 20-0 behind two Sonny to Charley Taylor TD passes

--The teams did not play from 1992-2003 and there was a huge gap between games in Washington (1985-2004)

--Their last five meetings have all been decided by a TD or less

My memories:

Obviously very slim pickens. I pretty much hate every other NFL team for one reason or another, but I've always sort of rooted for the Bengals for whatever reason (dug their helmets when I was a kid). Might be due in large part to the fact that we have almost no history with them.

--Without a doubt, the 1991 game is the first (and pretty much only) game that comes to mind for me. We got out to a big lead that day, but the Bengals fought back (Boomer always gave us fits no matter where he played) and tied the game at 27 late. Gerald Riggs scored his third TD of the game to put us back ahead...we wound up winning 34-27. The Bengals were very good from the mid 80s through 1990, but that game was almost like their last stand for the next 15 years...we improved to 4-0; they fell to 0-4 and then went 15 years before making the playoffs again. I remember feeling like we were pretty indestructible after that game...I was right.


--The 1988 game in Cincy sort of sticks out for some reason as well....last game of the year, Gibbs' worst season.. Bengals would wind up losing the Super Bowl about a month later to Joe Montana and his heroics. We had a late lead, but a long TD pass from Boomer tied it, and Jim Brfeech kicked a short FG in OT to win it. I can still see that kick go through the uprights for some reason....it was meaningless for us at that point other than it ensured a losing season at 7-9; only one under Gibbs the first time around. Also remember that game was on a Saturday, seemed like we had one of those late in the season very regularly through the late 80's and early 90's.

--I know we had a big comeback in 1985 at RFK, but I do not recall the details

--The 2004 game at FedEx was pretty "blah." Like many games that year, our D played OK, but the offense couldn't get rolling. We were out of it by then and I don't recall any real frustration from that one.

--Even though we still had playoff hope in 2008 going into Cincy, I'd pretty much packed it in. Even though the Bengals were 1-11 going in, I had no confidence, which is all you needed to know about how we played down the stretch that year. I can always tell how "into" a game I was by how vividly I recall the details. I don't recall many details from that day...I know we had a huge fumble on the goal line...I believe it was Sellers? That game just helped put me out of my misery that year.

[RIPSean]

Umm... How do you remember all of this?

[elkabong82]

I remember driving over to Cincy the last time we played them, and tailgating with some fellow ESers. Great time, and the Cincy fans were cool, even giving out free shots on a mobile ice luge. The game was not great, but the seats were, and pretty cheap too.

Jason Campbell was still QB for the Skins and Ochocinco still played for the Bengals back in '08.

[iMeast]

I was at the game in Cincy in 2008. The tailgating was the highlight. It would have been far better had Mike Sellers not fumbled on the 1 yard line.

HTTR

[skins island connection]

The 91' game sticks out to me the most, due to the overall season. Taking a big early lead, lots of smiles on the sidelines, but then the Bengals came back, and all the smiles turned into screaming on the sidelines, even by Gibbs.
These types of games are the ones no one can really figure out; its impossible to get a feel of how it may go, and I expect 60 minutes, maybe more, of football to be played in this one...

[kleese]

Umm... How do you remember all of this?

You sound like my wife....

It's one of my many useless skills. I have a really good memory in general and even more so when it comes to the Redskins and sports. I use online references to confirm the records and some details, but the personal memories are all off the top of my head. Why do I remember Jim Breech beating us with a 20 yard FG in a meaningless game 24 years ago? I have no idea. My claim to fame has always been that if you give me a number 1-46, I can tell you the Super Bowl winner, MVP, details etc....Also if you give me any year from 1970 on I can tell you each of the champions in all the major team sports from that year. Not bragging, it is a completely useless usage of brain storage space, but it's the truth. Again, my wife is sort of embarrassed by it all

[pjfootballer]

I'm kind of like you Kleese when it come to useless sports information (Super Bowl, score, MVP, site, etc), but I'm not as versed in other sports. I could probably remember about 80% of the other sports champions and matchups compared to the NFL. College sports, I can't remember alot. It takes something to jog my memory. I'm not good at remembering specific games though, unless they have a significant meaning or were just "one of those games" like the two we had against Green Bay and the Raiders in 1983.

My wife and my mom are amazed at what I can remember. My mom is on vacation this week at the beach and she recorded the game, but wanted me to send her texts of the score after each quarter. Monday, I had to text her and tell her we lost Rak and Carriker for the year, but I told her we'd probably pick Manuel White off the Bucs practice squad and promote Worthington. After it happened yesterday, I sent her another text telling her that we in fact did that. She said she's calling Bruce Allen when she gets back to see if he'll give me a job.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

The '91 game is the only game that stands out against the Bengals. Not many memories that have stuck against them at all. A see-saw battle on the horrible astroturf of Riverfront Stadium. Which was just a horrid place to play all round with the winds whipping in off the Ohio river.

To add to your thoughts in the OP, I remember yet another great punt return TD from Mitch (are you listening Banks); and being personally disappointed Ickie Woods never played as I loved his personality.

Hail.

[RedskinsNation]

Uggh...I was at that game in Cincy in 2008. Stadium was half empty and I bought tix off Craiglist in the lower level for like $25 a pop. That was about the highlight of that trip. I remember Cooley fumbled on the 1st drive of the game...may have been the 1st play from scrimmage. After the game I was sick thinking about making that 10 hour drive home after the loss. I was at FedEx back in 2004 when we lost to the Bengals...I think Kelly Washington went nuts on us. Nothing but bad memories related to the Bengals for me.

[USS Redskins]

Uggh...I was at that game in Cincy in 2008. Stadium was half empty and I bought tix off Craiglist in the lower level for like $25 a pop. That was about the highlight of that trip. I remember Cooley fumbled on the 1st drive of the game...may have been the 1st play from scrimmage. After the game I was sick thinking about making that 10 hour drive home after the loss. I was at FedEx back in 2004 when we lost to the Bengals...I think Kelly Washington went nuts on us. Nothing but bad memories related to the Bengals for me.

I was there too (here in 2008).. what a mess. Good old Mike Sellers fumbling on the 1... had to endure shouts of "Who Dey" on the walk back to the car... from fans of a team that was 2-11. The QB for the bengals was Ryan Fitzpatrick, who up to that game was just god awful...
The skins were here in Cincy in 2006 for a preseason game when portis hurt his shoulder on a tackle and was never the same that year.

[RedskinsNation]

I was there too (here in 2008).. what a mess. Good old Mike Sellers fumbling on the 1... had to endure shouts of "Who Dey" on the walk back to the car... from fans of a team that was 2-11. The QB for the bengals was Ryan Fitzpatrick, who up to that game was just god awful...
The skins were here in Cincy in 2006 for a preseason game when portis hurt his shoulder on a tackle and was never the same that year.

Thats right, the WHO DEY chants. I didnt catch much grief until we literally got in the car and pulled away. We deserved whatever we got though, you cant lose to a 1-11-1 team. That was a typical Redskins loss, fumbles bumbles etc...and playing way down to an opponent.

Shockingly tho there were a TON of Redskins fans in Cincy on that day. I think people underestimate our fanbase until you go to a road game and see how many fans we bring.

[kleese]

I'm kind of like you Kleese when it come to useless sports information (Super Bowl, score, MVP, site, etc), but I'm not as versed in other sports. I could probably remember about 80% of the other sports champions and matchups compared to the NFL. College sports, I can't remember alot. It takes something to jog my memory. I'm not good at remembering specific games though, unless they have a significant meaning or were just "one of those games" like the two we had against Green Bay and the Raiders in 1983.

My wife and my mom are amazed at what I can remember. My mom is on vacation this week at the beach and she recorded the game, but wanted me to send her texts of the score after each quarter. Monday, I had to text her and tell her we lost Rak and Carriker for the year, but I told her we'd probably pick Manuel White off the Bucs practice squad and promote Worthington. After it happened yesterday, I sent her another text telling her that we in fact did that. She said she's calling Bruce Allen when she gets back to see if he'll give me a job.

Hate to do this to you PJ, but it's MARKUS White

But I hear ya, I remember this stuff so vividly. Friends and family call/text all the time to settle arguments, ask questions, etc... Again, that might sound like bragging, but I'd only say that if I was telling you they were calling me about how to upgrade their portfolio or how to make more money or something. They don't call me for that.... They call me to find out who started at catcher for the 1990 Reds (Joe Oliver)

My go-to summation of this point always comes back to Romeo Bandison. If you hear that name, cringe, and feel your stomach drop then you are probably like me. If you hear that name and it doesn't stir any memories then you are either too young or a normal human being

[Boss_Hogg]

Ugh, I vividly remember the 2008 game. That's when I knew we were in for a bad ride with the Zorn administration.

[WesB]

The first Redskins I went too was the Bengals game at RFK in 1995. I think I was in 6th grade. Art Monk had the best game of his career and the 'Skins had to come back from like 2 TD's down or something like that. Schroeder as QB and George Rogers was our starting RB. I remember Rogers fumbling in the game. He always had issues fumbling. I want to say it was Riggin's last home game of his career. He was dressed, but didn't play and I remember the fans chanting "BullS--t" when Gibbs didn't put him in the game.

[kleese]

^1985.... Rallied from down 24-7 I believe