11-11-2021, 06:39 PM
(11-11-2021, 04:28 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: 1973 - Finished 10-4 - Lost playoff game to Dolphins 16-34
Thoughts? Also, if you just want to talk about some memories of some of these teams, feel free.
1973 is the first year I can remember following the team as a fan.
I was 10 years old in 5th grade. My dad came from the backwoods of Kentucky where none of the small schools had football teams. He was more of a fan of basketball and baseball. I started playing Pee-Wee football in '72, back then 4th grade was the earliest you could start. I remember OSU losing the Rose Bowl to USC after the '72 season, but I didn't follow either team closely until '73.
That was a damn good team. #5 offense and #8 defense.
Isaac Curtis was a rookie and finished 5th in the league receiving yards and 4th in receiving tds and yards per catch.
We were 17 yards short of having 2 RBs with 1000 rushing yards (Boobie Clark 988, Essex Johnson 997). Boobie set the Bengal rookie record for yards from scrimmage (95.3 per game) that still stands today. Essex Johnson added 96.6 per game. Their combined yards per game (192.0) crushes what Icky Woods and James Brooks combined for in 1988 (155.2)
1973 was the only season I remember Bill Bergey playing for the Bengals. He made Paul Brown mad by signing a contract with the World Football league and was traded after the '73 season. But since I played MLB for my Pee Wee team Bergey was one of my favorite players. Bergey was so good that we got 2 first round picks and a second round pick for him. He should really get more consideration for the Hall of Fame. He was All-Afl as a rookie (69) 2 time All Pro ('74-'75), 5 time Pro Bowl ('74-'78), set the record for interceptions by a line backer (27), was the highest paid defensive player in the league, and was 2nd team All-Decade (ProFootballReference).
'73 was also Ken Anderson "break out season", It was his third year in the league and he finished 4th in yards, 5th in yards, and 8th in passer rating.
