12-24-2021, 06:08 PM
(12-24-2021, 04:20 PM)fredtoast Wrote: For many years the regular season was over before Christmas.
The first time I remember the Bengals playing on Christmas was in 1989. I had to go back to look up the exact year, but the game was very memorable. It was the last game of the season on Monday Night Football. The Bengals were playing the Vikings. Whichever team won made the playoffs. They had video feeds of the two other teams whose playoff fate was being decided (Steelers, Packers) watching the game.
Vikes jump out to 19-0 lead. Bengals roar back to 21-22 in 4th quarter. Lose 21-29 when Vikings stop them on fourth-and-goal inside the five yard line late in the game. So I had to watch the Steelers celebrate live to finish my Christmas Day.
That reminded me of a time the Bengals were having a "watch party." Guess networks liked to do that back in the '80s. Anyway, I believe it was 1986, and some of the Bengals were gathered at some spot in Newport (?) to watch the game. We were 10-6 and got in if one of the teams playing (New England, maybe?) lost. Boomer and Collinsworth were there with a few others, and I just remember them all sitting there looking sad when it became evident we were going to miss the playoffs. That evening sucked.
