Who do think is best between these two barely-playoff-participants, each 6 losses, separated by just one year?
FWIW, both Bengals and Oilers tied in the Astrodome in '69 and then the following year, split their series (now being division-rivals), each winning their game on the road.
'69 Oilers VS '70 Bengals
Re: '69 Oilers VS '70 Bengals
1970 Bengals were probably better.
1969 Oilers were interesting in that they had three HOF caliber defenders in Bethea, George Webster, and Ken Houston. But their defense wasn't anything special.
Watched their highlight film once, and despite the hype, really seemed like they might have something going. Charlie Johnson seemed like a major upgrade over Beathard, and there were a lot of other good pieces. But instead they went into a decline, to an awful state.
Charlie Johnson wasn't great, then he got replaced by Pastorini and Dickey, who weren't great either. I suppose they were all better than Beathard. Webster got hurt, was never the same. The offensive line got old and good replacements weren't available. Hoyle Granger declined and wasn't replaced. The RBs were so bad by 1972 Charlie Joiner had to be traded to the Bengals for a couple of RBs. Then they needed receivers, so Webster and a 1st round pick were traded for Dave Smith and Billy Parks. What a mess.
The 1969 Oilers also didn't beat (or tie) any team with a winning record. The 1970 Bengals did (the Raiders, in their first game.) I suppose Bergey, Mike Reid, Parrish, and Riley made for a pretty good defense. Robinson and Jess Phillips ran the ball fairly well, and Virg Carter dinked the ball down the field on occasion.
1969 Oilers were interesting in that they had three HOF caliber defenders in Bethea, George Webster, and Ken Houston. But their defense wasn't anything special.
Watched their highlight film once, and despite the hype, really seemed like they might have something going. Charlie Johnson seemed like a major upgrade over Beathard, and there were a lot of other good pieces. But instead they went into a decline, to an awful state.
Charlie Johnson wasn't great, then he got replaced by Pastorini and Dickey, who weren't great either. I suppose they were all better than Beathard. Webster got hurt, was never the same. The offensive line got old and good replacements weren't available. Hoyle Granger declined and wasn't replaced. The RBs were so bad by 1972 Charlie Joiner had to be traded to the Bengals for a couple of RBs. Then they needed receivers, so Webster and a 1st round pick were traded for Dave Smith and Billy Parks. What a mess.
The 1969 Oilers also didn't beat (or tie) any team with a winning record. The 1970 Bengals did (the Raiders, in their first game.) I suppose Bergey, Mike Reid, Parrish, and Riley made for a pretty good defense. Robinson and Jess Phillips ran the ball fairly well, and Virg Carter dinked the ball down the field on occasion.
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BD Sullivan
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Re: '69 Oilers VS '70 Bengals
The Bengals got hot at midseason and had the good fortune to be in the same division with an inconsistent Browns team that blew a 10-0 lead in the game in Cincy that helped the Bengals maintain their momentum. Ironically, the Bengals blew a 10-0 lead in their loss at Cleveland a month earlier.Jay Z wrote:1970 Bengals were probably better.
1969 Oilers were interesting in that they had three HOF caliber defenders in Bethea, George Webster, and Ken Houston. But their defense wasn't anything special.
Watched their highlight film once, and despite the hype, really seemed like they might have something going. Charlie Johnson seemed like a major upgrade over Beathard, and there were a lot of other good pieces. But instead they went into a decline, to an awful state.
Charlie Johnson wasn't great, then he got replaced by Pastorini and Dickey, who weren't great either. I suppose they were all better than Beathard. Webster got hurt, was never the same. The offensive line got old and good replacements weren't available. Hoyle Granger declined and wasn't replaced. The RBs were so bad by 1972 Charlie Joiner had to be traded to the Bengals for a couple of RBs. Then they needed receivers, so Webster and a 1st round pick were traded for Dave Smith and Billy Parks. What a mess.
The 1969 Oilers also didn't beat (or tie) any team with a winning record. The 1970 Bengals did (the Raiders, in their first game.) I suppose Bergey, Mike Reid, Parrish, and Riley made for a pretty good defense. Robinson and Jess Phillips ran the ball fairly well, and Virg Carter dinked the ball down the field on occasion.