3 Times the Cincinnati Bengals Came Close to Winning the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XVI, Jan. 24, 1982: San Francisco 49ers 26, Cincinnati Bengals 21

The Bengals' first Super Bowl came in 1981. Under coach Forrest Gregg, the team went 12-4 during the regular season to win the AFC Central and earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC. 

Cincinnati topped the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round before defeating the San Diego Chargers in the American Football League title game.

In Super Bowl XVI against Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers, the Bengals fell down 20-0 before scoring 14 straight points in the third quarter but the 49ers prevailed 26-21. 

The two teams would eventually meet in the Super Bowl later in the decade.

Super Bowl XXIII, Jan. 22, 1989: San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16

The 1989 season played out similarly to the Cincinnati Bengals' last Super Bowl appearance. 

This team, coached by Sam Wyche, had a winning record of 12-4 and won the AFC Central, earned the No. 1 seed and defeated the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills to reach Super Bowl XXIII where they would face the San Francisco 49ers once again.

The Bengals took a 16-13 lead in the fourth quarter when Stanford Jennings broke free for a 93-yard kick return touchdown. 

But Montana found John Taylor for a touchdown pass to edge the Bengals again, delivering more heartbreak to the Cincinnati fans.

The franchise went through several stretches of mediocrity and some good runs but made the playoffs just seven times from 1991 to 2020 and lost in the Wild Card round every time.

Super Bowl LVI, Feb. 13, 2022: Los Angeles Rams 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20

Then came the magical NFL 2021 season. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, quarterback Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase led the team to a 10-7 regular-season record and AFC North title.

The Bengals beat the Las Vegas Raiders in the Wild Card round, upset the No. 1 seed Tennessee Titans in the Divisional round and the defending Super Bowl champs Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game to reach the Super Bowl in Los Angeles.

Super Bowl LVI saw the Cincinnati faithful endure another disappointing loss. The Los Angeles Rams scored a late touchdown in the second half and held the Bengals on the final game of the drive to keep the Bengals winless in franchise history in the Super Bowl.

Have the Cincinnati Bengals Ever Won a Super Bowl?

No, the Cincinnati Bengals have yet to win a Super Bowl.

Head coach Zac Taylor, quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase will attempt to secure a playoff spot and bring home the franchise's first Lombardi Trophy this season.

Have the Cincinnati Bengals ever made it to the Super Bowl?

The Cincinnati Bengals made it to the Super Bowl on three separate occasions.

Cincinnati lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XXIII, and the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI.

How Many Super Bowl Appearances Have the Bengals Had?

Cincinnati has made three Super Bowl appearances. The Bengals lost 26-21 to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI, which took place on Jan. 24, 1982 at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.

The Bengals Super Bowl history continued with another loss to the 49ers, falling 20-16 at Super Bowl XXIII on Jan. 22, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami.

Cincinnati wouldn't return to the big game until Super Bowl LVI, when the team lost 23-2o to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13, 2022.

How Close did the Cincinnati Bengals Get to Winning the Super Bowl?

The Bengals' Super Bowl history is filled with close calls. In each of the team's Super Bowl appearances, Cincinnatti was within one score during the fourth quarter before coming up short in each game.

Super Bowl XVI saw the team rally from a 20-0 deficit against the San Francisco 49ers to make it a 20-14 game before falling 26-21.

In Super Bowl XXIII, San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana engineered a game-winning touchdown drive with 34 seconds left, capping it with a 10-yard pass to John Taylor for a 20-16 victory.

Against the Rams in Super Bowl LVI, the Bengals took a 20-16 lead into the fourth quarter. But the Rams capped a 15-play, 79-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp with 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, delivering another disappointing defeat to Bengals fans.

Check out the NFL betting sites to see how the operators see the Bengals' chances to win the upcoming Super Bowl.

History of the Bengals' Super Bowl opponents

The Bengals played the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XXII, losing to pro football hall-of-fame quarterback Joe Montana and the 49ers' vaunted west coast offense in both games.

In Super Bowl LVI, the Bengals lost to the Los Angeles Rams.

What happened during the Bengals' last Super Bowl Appearance?

Against the Rams in Super Bowl LVI, the Bengals got off to a slow start, falling behind 13-3 before the team scored 17 unanswered points for a 20-13 lead. 

But the Bengals franchise continued to suffer agony in the big game when the Rams put together a fourth-quarter touchdown drive to secure a 23-20 over the Bengals.

Bengals Super Bowls A Close Call: What Went Wrong?

The Cincinnati Bengals were simply on the wrong end of greatness in each of its Super Bowl losses. It's difficult to say the team choked when its opponent had some of the greatest in the history of their position make plays against the Bengals down the stretch.

Joe Montana is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and many feel the 49ers' offense of the 1980s was revolutionary. Hard to blame Cincinnati for losing to Montana and hall of fame coach Bill Walsh.

Trailing 23-20 to the Los Angeles Rams with 49 seconds and at midfield during Super Bowl LVI, Joe Burrow's pass on fourth-and-1 was incomplete when he was tackled by Los Angeles defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who is recognized as one of the top defensive players in the history of the league.

In all three instances, the Bengals were beaten by some of the NFL's greatest figures in the league.

How Likely is it That the Bengals Will Win the Super Bowl Next Year?

At numerous sportsbooks, the Bengals have the fifth-best odds to win the Super Bowl in 2023, and the third-best odds of any AFC team at +750 on the Caesars Ohio Sportsbook. 

Cincinnati still trails the overall Super Bowl favorites, the Buffalo Bills (+350) and the Kansas City Chiefs (+500).

The Philadelphia Eagles (+460) and San Francisco 49ers (+700) have shorter odds than the Bengals in the NFC.

Do the Bengals Stand a Better Chance with Joe Burrow on the Team?

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow led this Cincinnati team to Super Bowl LVI. Burrow orchestrated a comeback win against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game and his experience in the postseason gives the Cincinnati Bengals a chance to win a Super Bowl title this year and future Super Bowls.

Current Bengals Super Bowl Odds

The Cincinnati Bengals are currently +750 to win the Super Bowl at BetMGM Ohio app and +400 to win the AFC Championship game.

Where is the Next Super Bowl 2023 being Played?

Super Bowl LVII will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.