1981 Cincinnati Bengals season

The 1981 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 14th year in professional football and its 12th with the National Football League. The Bengals unveiled new uniforms with tiger-striped helmets, jerseys and pants. They had at least a share of the AFC Central lead the entire season and, on Dec. 13, Ken Anderson threw two touchdown passes as the Bengals clinched the division with a 17–10 win over the Steelers. Anderson led the NFL in passing with a 98.5 rating. On Jan. 3, the Bengals beat Buffalo, 28–21, in an AFC Divisional Playoff game. A week later, playing in their first AFC Championship Game, the Bengals defeated San Diego, 27–7, at Riverfront Stadium in a temperature of nine degrees below zero with a wind-chill factor of minus 59. In Super Bowl XVI on Jan. 24 in Pontiac, Mich., the Bengals trailed 20–0 at halftime and lost to San Francisco, 26–21.

AFC Divisional Playoff

 * January 3 Buffalo W 28–21 55,420 Riverfront

AFC Championship Game

 * Freezer Bowl January 10 San Diego W 27–7 46,302 Riverfront

Super Bowl

 * Super Bowl XVI January 24 San Francisco L 21–26 81,270 Pontiac Silverdome

Awards and records

 * Ken Anderson, NFL MVP
 * Ken Anderson, Bert Bell Award
 * Ken Anderson, Franchise Record (since broken), Touchdown Passes, 29 Passes
 * Ken Anderson, Led NFL, Passer Rating, 98.4 Rating

Milestones

 * Ken Anderson, Franchise Record (since broken), Most Touchdown Passes in One Season, 29 Passes
 * Cris Collinsworth, 1st 1,000 Yard Receiving Season (1,009 yards)
 * Pete Johnson, 1,000 Yard Rushing Season (1,077 yards)