1998 Cincinnati Bengals season

The 1998 season was the Cincinnati Bengals' 31st in professional football and their 29th in the National Football League (NFL). The Bengals finished with a 3–13 record for the fourth time in the 1990s, as new free agent quarterback Neil O'Donnell was sacked 30 times. Despite the poor showing by the offensive line, running back Corey Dillon established himself as one of the NFL's premier running backs, as he rushed for 1,120 yards.^[1] The only bright spot for the Bengals in 1998 was when they swept division rival Pittsburgh. This was the Bengals only sweep of the Steelers during the "Bungles" years.

1998 Cincinnati Bengals season
Head coach	Bruce Coslet
Home stadium	Cinergy Field
Results
Record	3–13
Division place	5th AFC Central
Playoffs	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	None
← 1997 Bengals seasons 1999 →

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1998 NFL draft

The Bengals drafted nine players in 1998.^[2]

1998 Cincinnati Bengals draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	13	Takeo Spikes *	Linebacker	Auburn
1	17	Brian Simmons	Linebacker	North Carolina
2	43	Artrell Hawkins	Cornerback	Cincinnati
3	75	Steve Foley	Linebacker	Louisiana–Monroe
3	78	Mike Goff	Guard	Iowa
4	105	Glen Steele	Defensive tackle	Michigan
6	167	Jason Tucker	Wide receiver	TCU
7	202	Marcus Parker	Running back	Virginia Tech
7	222	Damian Vaughn	Tight end	Miami (OH)
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

1998 undrafted free agents of note

Player	Position	College
Alonzo Clayton	Wide receiver	Northern Iowa
Brad Costello	Punter	Boston University
Mike Doughty	Tackle	Notre Dame
Damon Gibson	Wide receiver	Iowa
Daryle Heidelburg	Wide receiver	Jackson State
Jeff Leonard	Defensive end	Wyoming
Derrick LeVake	Tackle	Wisconsin–Whitewater
Adrian Luster	Defensive Tackle	The Citadel
Ric Mathias	Cornerback	Wisconsin–La Crosse
Jason Moore	Safety	San Diego State
Kevin Moore	Safety	Morgan State
Buddy Rodgers	Fullback	Maryland
Adrian Ross	Linebacker	Colorado State
Erik Storz	Linebacker	Boston College

Personnel

Staff

1998 Cincinnati Bengals staff

Front office President – Mike Brown Head coaches Head coach – Bruce Coslet Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator – Dick LeBeau Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Ken Anderson Running backs – Jim Anderson Tight ends – Bob Wylie Offensive line – Paul Alexander Offensive staff assistant – John Garrett

Defensive coaches Defensive line – Tim Krumrie Linebackers – Mark Duffner Defensive backs – Ray Horton Defensive staff assistant – Louie Cioffi Special teams coaches Special teams – Al Roberts Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Kim Wood

Roster

1998 Cincinnati Bengals roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 10 Paul Justin 15 Eric Kresser Running backs (RB) 36 Brandon Bennett 21 Eric Bieniemy 28 Corey Dillon 46 Clif Groce 44 Brian Milne FB 45 Ray Zellars Wide receivers (WR) 84 Damon Gibson 85 James Hundon 80 Willie Jackson 81 Carl Pickens 86 Darnay Scott 87 Stepfret Williams Tight ends (TE) 89 Marco Battaglia 88 Steve Bush 82 Tony McGee

Offensive linemen (OL) 71 Willie Anderson T 65 Darrick Brilz C 75 Anthony Brown G 63 Mike Goff G 62 Brock Gutierrez C 60 Rod Jones G 64 Rod Payne C 77 Kevin Sargent T 68 Scott Shaw G Defensive linemen (DL) 90 Michael Bankston DE 92 John Copeland DE 94 Jevon Langford DE 97 Andre Purvis NT 96 Clyde Simmons DE 93 Mike Thompson NT 67 Kimo von Oelhoffen NT

Linebackers (LB) 98 Canute Curtis OLB 95 Steve Foley OLB 50 James Francis OLB 91 Billy Granville ILB 57 Adrian Ross OLB 56 Brian Simmons ILB 51 Takeo Spikes ILB 52 Jimmy Sprotte ILB 55 Reinard Wilson OLB Defensive backs (DB) 33 Ashley Ambrose CB 40 Myron Bell SS 37 Roosevelt Blackmon CB 27 Artrell Hawkins CB 29 Kelvin Moore FS 31 Greg Myers FS 20 Thomas Randolph CB 35 Sam Shade SS Special teams (ST)  6 Brad Costello P  9 Doug Pelfrey K 59 Greg Truitt LS

Practice squad 76 Mike Doughty T (IR) 24 Ric Mathias CB 52 Tim Terry LB 49 Damian Vaughn TE -- Cory Withrow C 42 Lawrence Wright S 53 active, 11 inactive, 5 practice squad Reserve  8 Jeff Blake QB (IR) 66 Ken Blackman G (IR) 74 Rich Braham G (IR) 32 Ki-Jana Carter RB (IR) 16 Alonzo Clayton WR (IR) 34 Tremain Mack CB (Left squad) 12 Neil O'Donnell QB (IR) 23 Corey Sawyer CB (IR) 70 Glen Steele DE (IR) 53 Tom Tumulty LB (IR) Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Attendance
1	September 6	Tennessee Oilers	L 14–23	0–1	55,848
2	September 13	at Detroit Lions	W 34–28	1–1	66,354
3	September 20	Green Bay Packers	L 6–13	1–2	56,346
4	September 27	at Baltimore Ravens	L 24–31	1–3	68,154
5	Bye
6	October 11	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 25–20	2–3	59,979
7	October 18	at Tennessee Oilers	L 14–44	2–4	33,288
8	October 25	at Oakland Raiders	L 10–27	2–5	40,089
9	November 1	Denver Broncos	L 26–33	2–6	59,974
10	November 8	at Jacksonville Jaguars	L 11–24	2–7	67,040
11	November 15	at Minnesota Vikings	L 3–24	2–8	64,232
12	November 22	Baltimore Ravens	L 13–20	2–9	52,571
13	November 29	Jacksonville Jaguars	L 17–34	2–10	55,432
14	December 6	Buffalo Bills	L 20–33	2–11	54,359
15	December 13	at Indianapolis Colts	L 26–39	2–12	55,179
16	December 20	at Pittsburgh Steelers	W 25–24	3–12	52,017
17	December 27	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 0–35	3–13	49,826
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFC Central
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
(3) Jacksonville Jaguars	11	5	0	.688	392	338	W1
Tennessee Oilers	8	8	0	.500	330	320	L2
Pittsburgh Steelers	7	9	0	.438	263	303	L5
Baltimore Ravens	6	10	0	.375	269	335	W1
Cincinnati Bengals	3	13	0	.188	268	452	L1

^[3]

Team leaders

Passing

Player	Att	Comp	Yds	TD	INT	Rating
Neil O'Donnell	343	212	2216	15	4	90.2

Rushing

Player	Att	Yds	YPC	Long	TD
Corey Dillon	262	1130	4.3	66	4

Receiving

Player	Rec	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
Carl Pickens	82	1023	12.5	67	5
Darnay Scott	51	817	16.0	70	7

Defensive

Player	Tackles	Sacks	INTs	FF	FR
Takeo Spikes	112	2.0	0	0	0
Reinard Wilson	63	6.0	0	2	0
Sam Shade	78	1.0	3	0	2
Artrell Hawkins	70	1.0	3	2	1

Kicking and punting

Player	FGA	FGM	FG%	XPA	XPM	XP%	Points
Doug Pelfrey	27	19	70.4%	21	21	100.0%	78

Player	Punts	Yards	Long	Blkd	Avg.
Lee Johnson	69	3083	69	1	44.7

Special teams

Player	KR	KRYards	KRAvg	KRLong	KRTD	PR	PRYards	PRAvg	PRLong	PRTD
Tremain Mack	45	1165	25.9	97	1	0	0	0.0	0	0
Damon Gibson	17	372	21.9	30	0	27	218	8.1	65	1

Awards and records

• Carl Pickens, franchise record, most receptions in one game, 13 (achieved on October 11, 1998) ^[4]

Milestones

• Corey Dillon, 2nd 1,000-yard rushing season (1,130 rushing yards) ^[5]
• Carl Pickens, 4th 1,000-yard receiving season (1,023 receiving yards) ^[6]
• Chad Cornelius, led NFL in punt average in the preseason before tearing the ACL/MCL on his kicking leg. Was the first punter to down his own punt.^{[citation needed]}