Chronicle of a Champion-1970 Cincinnati Bengals

[Music] the goal of every professional team is a championship for most winning a title takes years but for the cincinnati bengals the climb to the top has been sudden the bengals overcame injury and adversity to capture the afc's central division title in 1970 climaxing a three-year rise to football supremacy and this is the story of that flying the 1970 season opened under a cloud of pessimism with star quarterback greg cook in street clothes in 1969 cook was named rookie of the year and led the afl in passing tall strong and confident cook was the perfect hero to lead the bengals into a golden age of football prominence then the bengals hopes were battered to earth as cook suffered an arm injury that would never completely heal he was lost to cincinnati for the entire 1970 season [Music] how to fill the void at quarterback that was the problem facing the bengals the candidates were newcomer virgil carter who had been rejected by both the bears and bills and veterans sam weitz a proven backup quarterback but certainly no superstar [Music] in the season's first game against the oakland raiders weich opened at quarterback while carter watched and waited sam white's performed like a time-tested veteran instead of like a rusty reserve his elusive running and leadership appeared to win him the quarterback job while carter seemed destined to remain a spectator the bengals were determined to prove that they could win without greg cook as each player gave from the heart as well as the body cincinnati's new riverfront stadium was christened in dazzling style as jess phillips 83-yard sprint capped the 31-21 cincinnati victory it appeared the bengals had enough depth and talent to win without their star quarterback as they ambushed one of pro football's traditional powers but in the season's second game they were thrown to the lions mistakes and a ferocious detroit defense all contributed to defeat as the lions devoured cincinnati 38-3 all the hopes and dreams created by the first victory were suddenly shattered the height of the bengals embarrassment was lem barney's controversial punt return for a touchdown the next week against houston cincinnati seemed to be back in winning form as all pro bob trumpy hauled in his first touchdown pass of the year then as if guided by some mysterious force the bengals fortune suddenly reversed it took houston's charlie johnson only three minutes to lead the oilers on an 80-yard scoring march that broke cincinnati's back and gave houston a slim 20-13 victory [Music] the fourth week brought the return of the master paul brown came back to cleveland to the team he built to the town he once ruled an attempt to revive the sputtering offense brown decided to start virgil carter at quarterback carter had digested the bengal playbook and seemed ready to show his wares rarely has any quarterback made such an impressive debut nine times he threw nine times he connected igniting an attack that had been dormant since the opening game [Music] the offense was overpowering the defense equally devastating as number 82 royce berry picked up a fumble and strolled in for a touchdown [Music] the upstart young team from cincinnati had cleveland with their backs to the wall but then the browns bought an attack began to click number 44 leroy kelly roamed through the defense for acres of yardage in cleveland snatched victory away 30-27 [Music] the heartbreaking loss was cincinnati's third straight and extended a streak that would see the bengals sink to last place [Music] a team that had opened the season an impressive style was suddenly on a treadmill to oblivion the coming weeks would only bring more misery and misfortune the bengals losing streak would stretch to six with losses to the kansas city chiefs the washington redskins and the pittsburgh steelers defeat is a relentless predator it preys on the young as well as the old [Music] defeat feeds on a man's mind and drain strength from his body defeat is a humiliating force that finds expression in disturbing ways and passes at sail beyond frantic [Music] fingers field goals that float hopelessly wide of their mark [Music] penalties that fall at the worst times [Music] but nothing can measure the true effect of losing defeat is a state of mind that infects the fans as well as the players [Music] losing left the bengals worn and exhausted but defeat had also been a valuable teacher for the team learned lessons that would become the foundations of victory in the face of defeat virgil carter absorbed the most savage lessons losing could inflict but had acquired the poise and polish of a professional quarterback [Music] running back paul robinson endured defeats best licks but was slowly regaining the sinew and swiftness that once made him the scourge of the league rookie mike reed looked defeat squarely in the eye and was cultivating the quickness and savvy that would make him a great defensive tackle [Music] the defensive secondary that had often been burned by the bomb was developing the cohesion and tenacity that would bring future victory [Music] the tools of victory had been painfully forged for six long weeks the bengals had been like an unsolved puzzle slowly the pieces were coming together through six straight losses cincinnati had been ticking like a time bomb against buffalo they would explode out of the darkness of defeat into the brightness of victory charged the bengals of cincinnati against buffalo the long road of frustration came to an end and the spotlight fell squarely on rookie lamar parish number 20. [Music] perry sprinted for two tape measure touchdowns one a 95-yard jaunt with a kick-off the other an 83-yard trip with a blocked field goal [Music] against the bills every facet of cincinnati's game sparkled ferry spearheaded a stingy secondary horse moleman added five field goals and the hard chargers of the defensive line pummeled buffalo's quarterback for the second time in 1970 number 82 royce berry scooped up a fumble and scored a touchdown for virgil carter revenge carter had been dropped by the bills but now it returned to destroy them valuable lessons acquired in defeat were put to work the result was 43 points the most in cincinnati's history the bengals had polished their game to a bright luster just in time for a rematch with the cleveland browns the browns came to riverfront stadium tied for the division lead while the bengals remained in last place but this was an improved cincinnati team they had acquired poise precision power and the quarterback who would lead them out of the cellar virgil carter put on quite a show as he raced for 110 yards on only nine carries [Music] this 77-yard run was tarnished by a fumble but there were more [Music] carter had come a long way since his opening weeks of apprenticeship and had become an inspiring force in the bengals destiny with greg cook the bengals relied on the bomb with carter the offense became more versatile and it was this multi-sided attack that destroyed cleveland the 14 to 10 win was a personal victory for virgil carter who had risen from bench warmer to star it was a victory for the team for the 40 men who remained unified through weeks of losing the victory was the greatest in the bengals history and finished a chapter in an epic rivalry that will become one of the fiercest in the game [Music] but most of all this was a game the bengals won for their coach paul brown the architect of cincinnati's destiny for brown is the guiding force behind every move the bengals make he is a football genius his trademark is innovation from the paul brown of the past came many of the game's modern tactics including a system of messenger guards but with the paul brown of today innovation remains a way of life [Music] although the winds of change have blown into the 70s paul brown's theory of defense remains basic brutal and hard-hitting [Music] in cincinnati the steelers terry hanratty and terry bradshaw became painfully aware of the improved bengal defense bradshaw a hotshot rookie decided he'd send his runners around the defensive line but the rugged pursuers buried steeler runners and pressured bradshaw into mistakes bruised and unnerved bradshaw coughed up the ball and left the game a believer exit bradshaw and her hand ratty and ratty's tactics were to throw over the pass rush but number 31 fletcher smith disposed of that idea [Music] in 1969 the bengal defense had sometimes performed like a sieve but in 1970 the defense became one of the team's strongest areas the offense was quick striking and buried bob trump he hauled in a bomb from virgil carter and carter's own elusive style brought another score [Music] but much of the credit had to go to the offensive line who blasted open huge holes for the bursts of number 18 paul robinson [Music] the 34-7 victory avenged an earlier loss to pittsburgh and moved cincinnati into second place the bengals had climbed out of the cellar and were creeping up on a title the bengals next victim was the new orleans saints who were formally introduced to the bengal linebacking corps of bill bergie albochamp and ken avery defensive ends number 82 royce berry and number 85 martin bacalio lent their own special brand of muscle the secondary dispelled any passing hopes the saints might have had virgil carter exploited the varied talents of his receivers for scores he used the willowy strides of speedy thomas to cut through the saints defense and then bomb them with long strikes to a high stepper like bob trumpy number 84. carter's running ability added another weapon that blended with the speed and power of jess phillips and number 18 paul robinson in the second half of the season robinson exploded into the style that won him a rushing title in his rookie year the 26-6 victory moved cincinnati into a tie for first place they had now won four straight they were hot and nothing could stay their surge to the top [Music] the loyal bengal followers who journeyed to san diego witnessed the continued improvement of the defense they have names like chamazek carpenter reed and berry but the bengal defense functions more as one overpowering wave than as any singular man [Music] number 20 rookie lamar parish again paced the secondary by making a key fumble recovery and then gathering in a punt and spreading 79 yards for a touchdown [Music] quick short strikes to the bengals leading receiver number 25 chip myers weaken the charger defense for the bursts of number 30 jess phillips cincinnati scored only 17 points but it was enough for a victory and a half game first place lead in the astrodome the bengals avenged another loss as they dropped houston this time the bad breaks and the strange bounces seemed to descend on the oilers and the turning point came when linebacker al beaujam rumbled 25 yards to a touchdown again it was the versatility of the bengals attack that destroyed an opponent [Music] when the oilers fell back to cover passes from carter to myers carter simply handed the ball to his running back carter threw the receivers caught and phillips and robinson ran but the big noise came from reserve essex johnson number 19. [Music] the stocky fire brand from grambling squirmed and battered for two touchdowns in an outstanding performance [Music] johnson exemplifies the depth of the bengals often during the season injuries depleted the ranks but reserves were able to step in and do the job the season's final game brought the bengals the championship of the afc's central division [Music] the bengals routed boston 45-7 and every aspect of cincinnati's game shine for 14 weeks the bengals clawed and scratched their way to the top and now a title was theirs [Music] the dramatic climb from the seller to the title came from the determined efforts of players like number 25 chip myers [Music] the rise to the top resulted from a total effort by every player and none had worked harder than paul robinson who scored three touchdowns against boston it was fitting that sam weich the man who opened the season at quarterback sparkled in the final game the bengals had come a long way from the cloud of doubt that opened the season 1970 saw many gratifying achievements the building of a solid defense the growth of a quarterback named carter and the joy that came to the people of cincinnati for paul brown it was the most satisfying year in a lifetime of [Music] accomplishment the victory sent the bengals to the afc playoffs although they fell before the baltimore colts there's no disgrace in losing to the world champions [Music] in just three years the cincinnati bengals have accomplished more than most teams achieve in a decade in only their third year the bengals won a division title paul brown was named coach of the year for the second consecutive time [Music] in 1970 the bengals out muscled the meanest and out tough the toughest they are no longer an expansion team but are now a potent football power which has left its mark in the game but the records the accomplishments are all in the past for paul brown and the cincinnati bengals there are other mountains to climb more challenges to meet the bengals enter the 1970s with a talent and pride that could forge a dynasty [Music] you

Channel: Grey Beard

Views: 2,817

Rating: 5 out of 5

Keywords: NFL Films, Steve Sabol, Ed Sabol, Cincinnati Bengals, Paul Brown, Virgil Carter, Sam Wyche, Ken Riley, Bob Trumpy, Bruce Coslet

Id: iNQrLa8Ltjg

Length: 25min 20sec (1520 seconds)

Published: Fri Sep 18 2020