1968 Cincinnati Bengals season

The 1968 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's first year in professional football. Paul Brown, who left the Cleveland Browns following the 1962 season with an NFL record of 115–49–6, seven conference titles, and three NFL championships, had the urge to get back into football. His son Mike Brown did a study on pro football expansion and recommended Cincinnati as a potential site. In 1965, Brown met with Ohio Governor James Rhodes and the two agreed the state could accommodate a second pro football team.

1966 – Fearful the Reds baseball team would leave town and feeling pressure from local businessmen pushing for a pro football franchise, Cincinnati's city council approved the construction of Riverfront Stadium.

1967 – Brown's group was awarded an AFL expansion franchise. Brown called the team the Bengals, the name of Cincinnati's pro teams in the old AFL of the late 1930s. The Bengals acquired their first player late in the year when they traded two draft picks to Miami for QB John Stofa.

1968 – The Bengals were awarded 40 veteran players in the allocation draft. In the college draft, they selected Tennessee center Bob Johnson as their first pick. The Bengals lost their first preseason game, 38–14, to Kansas City before 21,682 fans at Nippert Stadium. The Bengals upset Denver, 24–10, and Buffalo, 34–23, in their first two regular-season home games. Paul Robinson led the AFL in rushing with 1023 yards and was named Rookie of the Year.

Week 1

 * Friday September 6, 1968

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
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Week 2

 * Sunday September 15

Week 3

 * Sunday September 22

Week 4
Sunday September 29

Week 5
Sunday October 6

Week 6
Sunday October 13

Week 7
Sunday October 20

Week 8
Sunday October 28

Week 9
Sunday November 3

Week 10
Sunday November 10

Week 11
Sunday, November 17

Week 12
Sunday November 24

Week 13
Sunday December 1

Week 14
Sunday December 8

Individual Stats
Passing

Rushing and Receiving

Team leaders

 * Passing: John Stofa (177 Att, 85 Comp, 896 Yds, 48.0 Pct, 5 TD, 5 Int, 60.8 Rating)
 * Rushing: Paul Robinson (238 Att, 1023 Yds, 4.3 Avg, 87 Long, 8 TD)
 * Receiving: Bob Trumpy (37 Rec, 639 Yds, 17.3 Avg, 80 Long, 3 TD)
 * Scoring: Dale Livingston, 59 points (13 FG; 20 PAT)

AFL Rookie of the Year

 * RB Paul Robinson

AFL Pro Bowl Selections

 * C Bob Johnson
 * TE Bob Trumpy

Highlights
Paul Brown, founder of the Cincinnati Bengals, was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.

Paul Robinson led the AFL in rushing with 1023 yards and was named Rookie of the Year.