2003 Cincinnati Bengals season

Last updated

2003 Cincinnati Bengals season
Cincinnati Bengals black wordmark (1997-2003).png
Head coach Marvin Lewis
Home field Paul Brown Stadium
Results
Record8–8
Division place2nd AFC North
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers T Willie Anderson
WR Chad Johnson
AP All-Pros WR Chad Johnson (2nd team)

The 2003 Cincinnati Bengals season was the franchise's 34th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 36th overall, and the first under head coach Marvin Lewis, who replaced Dick LeBeau, who was fired following the 2002 season which the worst season in Bengals history. The Bengals had the first overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft with which they selected 2002 Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer. After a slow start, the Bengals got hot winning at midseason, winning four straight games to stand at 7–5, entering a key Week 14 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens with a chance to win the division. However, in the key showdown for first place the Bengals showed they were not quite ready for primetime as they were beaten 31–13. The Bengals would rebound to win their next game against the San Francisco 49ers, but at 8–6 the Bengals could not get that ninth win, losing their last two games to spoil an effort to earn their first winning season since 1990, finishing at 8–8. [1]

Contents

Along with Willie Anderson, Chad Johnson, for the first time in his career, was named to the Pro Bowl at the end of the season.

Offseason

The Bengals lost fullback Lorenzo Neal and linebacker Takeo Spikes in free agency, while signing cornerback Tory James, safety Rogers Beckett, linebacker Kevin Hardy, defensive tackle John Thornton, tight end Reggie Kelly, quarterback Shane Matthews and defensive ends Duane Clemons and Carl Powell.

AdditionsSubtractions
DT John Thornton (Titans)QB Gus Frerotte (Vikings)
QB Shane Matthews (Redskins)LB Takeo Spikes (Bills)
S Rogers Beckett (Chargers)FB Lorenzo Neal (Chargers)
TE Reggie Kelly (Falcons)QB Akili Smith (Packers)
LB Kevin Hardy (Cowboys)K Neil Rackers (Cardinals)
CB Tory James (Raiders)DE Reinard Wilson (Buccaneers)
DE Duane Clemons (Chiefs)FB Nick Luchey (Packers)
DE Carl Powell (Redskins)DE Eric Ogbogu (Cowboys)
LB Steve Foley (Texans)

NFL Draft

2003 Cincinnati Bengals draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
11 Carson Palmer  *  Quarterback USC
233 Eric Steinbach  *  Guard Iowa
365 Kelley Washington   Wide receiver Tennessee
498 Dennis Weathersby   Cornerback Oregon State
4118 Jeremi Johnson   Fullback Western Kentucky
5136 Khalid Abdullah   Linebacker Mars Hill
6174 Langston Moore   Defensive tackle South Carolina
7215 Scott Kooistra   Offensive tackle North Carolina State
7259 Elton Patterson   Defensive end UCF
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Personnel

2003 Cincinnati Bengals staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Chip Morton
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Kurtis Shultz

Roster

2003 Cincinnati Bengals final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
53 active, 3 inactive, 5 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordKickoff TimeAttendance
1September 7 Denver Broncos L 10–300–1CBS 1:00pm63,820
2September 14at Oakland Raiders L 20–230–2CBS 4:15pm50,135
3September 21 Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–170–3CBS 1:00pm64,596
4September 28at Cleveland Browns W 21–141–3CBS 1:00pm73,428
5October 5at Buffalo Bills L 16–22 (OT)1–4CBS 1:00pm72,615
6 Bye
7October 19 Baltimore Ravens W 34–262–4CBS 1:00pm53,553
8October 26 Seattle Seahawks W 27–243–4FOX 1:00pm52,131
9November 2at Arizona Cardinals L 14–173–5CBS 4:05pm23,531
10November 9 Houston Texans W 34–274–5CBS 1:00pm50,437
11November 16 Kansas City Chiefs W 24–195–5CBS 1:00pm64,923
12November 23at San Diego Chargers W 34–276–5CBS 4:15pm52,069
13November 30at Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–207–5CBS 1:00pm58,797
14December 7at Baltimore Ravens L 13–317–6CBS 1:00pm69,468
15December 14 San Francisco 49ers W 41–388–6FOX 1:00pm64,666
16December 21at St. Louis Rams L 10–278–7CBS 1:00pm66,061
17December 28 Cleveland Browns L 14–228–8CBS 1:00pm65,362

Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text

Standings

AFC North
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(4) Baltimore Ravens 1060.6254–27–5391281W2
Cincinnati Bengals 880.5003–36–6346384L2
Pittsburgh Steelers 6100.3753–35–7300327L1
Cleveland Browns 5110.3132–43–9254322W1

Team leaders

Passing

PlayerAttCompYdsTDINTRating
Jon Kitna 3245203591261587.4

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsYPCLongTD
Rudi Johnson 2159574.5549

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsAvgLongTD
Chad Johnson 90135515.18210

Defensive

PlayerTacklesSacksINTsFFFR
Kevin Hardy 1241.5011
Duane Clemons 636.0011
John Thornton 606.0012
Tory James 681.0400

Kicking and punting

PlayerFGAFGMFG%XPAXPMXP%Points
Shayne Graham 252288.0%4040100.0%106
PlayerPuntsYardsLongBlkdAvg.
Kyle Richardson 49196158040.0

Special teams

PlayerKRKRYardsKRAvgKRLongKRTDPRPRYardsPRAvgPRLongPRTD
Brandon Bennett 53114621.6460000.000
Peter Warrick 000.0002527310.9681

Awards

Milestones

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References

  1. Season summary and statistics at Sports E Cyclopedia
  2. "2003 Cincinnati Bengals draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  3. "Chad Johnson Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com .
  4. "Brandon Bennett Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com .