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 QB 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.[1] 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.
The Bengals drafted nine players in 1998.[2]
Undrafted free agents
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1998 Cincinnati Bengals staff
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Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
- Strength and conditioning – Kim Wood
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1998 Cincinnati Bengals roster
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
53 active, 11 inactive, 5 practice squad
Rookies in italics
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Week
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Date
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Opponent
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Result
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Record
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Attendance
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1
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September 6
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Tennessee Oilers
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L 14–23
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0–1
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55,848
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2
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September 13
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at Detroit Lions
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W 34–28
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1–1
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66,354
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3
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September 20
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Green Bay Packers
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L 6–13
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1–2
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56,346
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4
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September 27
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at Baltimore Ravens
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L 24–31
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1–3
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68,154
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5
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Bye
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6
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October 11
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Pittsburgh Steelers
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W 25–20
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2–3
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59,979
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7
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October 18
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at Tennessee Oilers
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L 14–44
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2–4
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33,288
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8
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October 25
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at Oakland Raiders
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L 10–27
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2–5
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40,089
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9
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November 1
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Denver Broncos
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L 26–33
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2–6
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59,974
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10
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November 8
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at Jacksonville Jaguars
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L 11–24
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2–7
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67,040
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11
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November 15
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at Minnesota Vikings
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L 3–24
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2–8
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64,232
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12
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November 22
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Baltimore Ravens
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L 13–20
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2–9
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52,571
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13
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November 29
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Jacksonville Jaguars
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L 17–34
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2–10
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55,432
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14
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December 6
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Buffalo Bills
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L 20–33
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2–11
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54,359
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15
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December 13
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at Indianapolis Colts
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L 26–39
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2–12
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55,179
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16
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December 20
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at Pittsburgh Steelers
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W 25–24
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3–12
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52,017
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17
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December 27
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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L 0–35
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3–13
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49,826
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Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
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[3]
Player
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Att
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Comp
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Yds
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TD
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INT
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Rating
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Neil O'Donnell |
343 |
212 |
2216 |
15 |
4 |
90.2
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Player
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FGA
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FGM
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FG%
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XPA
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XPM
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XP%
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Points
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Doug Pelfrey |
27 |
19 |
70.4% |
21 |
21 |
100.0% |
78
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Player
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Punts
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Yards
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Long
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Blkd
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Avg.
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Lee Johnson |
69 |
3083 |
69 |
1 |
44.7
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Player
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KR
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KRYards
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KRAvg
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KRLong
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KRTD
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PR
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PRYards
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PRAvg
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PRLong
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PRTD
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Tremain Mack |
45 |
1165 |
25.9 |
97 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0
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Damon Gibson |
17 |
372 |
21.9 |
30 |
0 |
27 |
218 |
8.1 |
65 |
1
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- Carl Pickens, franchise record, most receptions in one game, 13 (achieved on October 11, 1998) [4]
- Corey Dillon, 2nd 1,000-yard rushing season (1,130 rushing yards) [5]
- Carl Pickens, 4th 1,000-yard receiving season (1,023 receiving yards) [6]
- 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.[citation needed]