1998 Cincinnati Bengals season

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox NFL team season The 1998 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 31st in professional football and their 29th in the National Football League (NFL). The Bengals finished with a 3–13 record for the fourth time in the 1990s, as new free agent quarterback Neil O'Donnell was sacked 30 times. Despite the poor showing by the offensive line, running back Corey Dillon established himself as one of the NFL's premier running backs, as he rushed for 1,120 yards. The only bright spot for the Bengals in 1998 was when they swept division rival Pittsburgh. This was the Bengals only sweep of the Steelers during the "Bungles" years.

Offseason

NFL draft

The Bengals drafted nine players in 1998. Template:NFL team draft start Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft entry Template:NFL team draft end

Undrafted free agents

1998 undrafted free agents of note

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Player	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"|Position	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"|College
Alonzo Clayton	Wide receiver	Northern Iowa
Brad Costello	Punter	Boston University
Mike Doughty	Tackle	Notre Dame
Damon Gibson	Wide receiver	Iowa
Daryle Heidelburg	Wide receiver	Jackson State
Jeff Leonard	Defensive end	Wyoming
Derrick LeVake	Tackle	Wisconsin–Whitewater
Adrian Luster	Defensive Tackle	The Citadel
Ric Mathias	Cornerback	Wisconsin–La Crosse
Jason Moore	Safety	San Diego State
Kevin Moore	Safety	Morgan State
Buddy Rodgers	Fullback	Maryland
Adrian Ross	Linebacker	Colorado State
Erik Storz	Linebacker	Boston College

Regular season

Schedule

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"|Week	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"|Date	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"|Opponent	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"|Result	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"|Record	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"|Attendance
1	September 6	Tennessee Oilers	L 14–23	0–1	55,848
2	September 13	at Detroit Lions	W 34–28	1–1	66,354
3	September 20	Green Bay Packers	L 6–13	1–2	56,346
4	September 27	at Baltimore Ravens	L 24–31	1–3	68,154
5	Bye
6	October 11	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 25–20	2–3	59,979
7	October 18	at Tennessee Oilers	L 14–44	2–4	33,288
8	October 25	at Oakland Raiders	L 10–27	2–5	40,089
9	November 1	Denver Broncos	L 26–33	2–6	59,974
10	November 8	at Jacksonville Jaguars	L 11–24	2–7	67,040
11	November 15	at Minnesota Vikings	L 3–24	2–8	64,232
12	November 22	Baltimore Ravens	L 13–20	2–9	52,571
13	November 29	Jacksonville Jaguars	L 17–34	2–10	55,432
14	December 6	Buffalo Bills	L 20–33	2–11	54,359
15	December 13	at Indianapolis Colts	L 26–39	2–12	55,179
16	December 20	at Pittsburgh Steelers	W 25–24	3–12	52,017
17	December 27	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 0–35	3–13	49,826
colspan="6" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Team leaders

Passing

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Player	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Att	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Comp	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Yds	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| TD	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| INT	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Rating
Neil O'Donnell	343	212	2216	15	4	90.2

Rushing

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Player	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Att	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Yds	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| YPC	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Long	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| TD
Corey Dillon	262	1130	4.3	66	4

Receiving

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Player	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Rec	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Yds	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Avg	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Long	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| TD
Carl Pickens	82	1023	12.5	67	5
Darnay Scott	51	817	16.0	70	7

Defensive

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Player	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Tackles	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Sacks	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| INTs	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| FF	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| FR
Takeo Spikes	112	2.0	0	0	0
Reinard Wilson	63	6.0	0	2	0
Sam Shade	78	1.0	3	0	2
Artrell Hawkins	70	1.0	3	2	1

Kicking and punting

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Player	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| FGA	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| FGM	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| FG%	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| XPA	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| XPM	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| XP%	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Points
Doug Pelfrey	27	19	70.4%	21	21	100.0%	78

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Player	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Punts	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Yards	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Long	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Blkd	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Avg.
Lee Johnson	69	3083	69	1	44.7

Special teams

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Player	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| KR	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| KRYards	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| KRAvg	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| KRLong	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| KRTD	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| PR	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| PRYards	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| PRAvg	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| PRLong	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| PRTD
Tremain Mack	45	1165	25.9	97	1	0	0	0.0	0	0
Damon Gibson	17	372	21.9	30	0	27	218	8.1	65	1

Awards and records

• Carl Pickens, franchise record, most receptions in one game, 13 (achieved on October 11, 1998)

Milestones

• Corey Dillon, 2nd 1,000-yard rushing season (1,130 rushing yards)
• Carl Pickens, 4th 1,000-yard receiving season (1,023 receiving yards)
• Chad Cornelius, led NFL in punt average in the preseason before tearing the ACL/MCL on his kicking leg. Was the first punter to down his own punt.

External links

• 1998 Cincinnati Bengals at Pro-Football-Reference.com