Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Plain and simple- which of Cincinnati's SB teams was better?

I want to give a slight edge to 1988- tougher division, beat better teams in the AFC playoffs.

I would agree with that assessment - also the way both teams played in the Super Bowl. '81 Bengals shot themselves in the foot early and often on their way to a 20-0 halftime deficit, which proved to be a hole too deep to climb out of despite a furious second half rally. '88 team gave the Niners all they could handle before finally going down to defeat in the final moments.

I've always thought of those two Bengals teams as completely different teams.

As different as Forrest Gregg and Sam Wyche.
As different as Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason.

The '88 Bengals would probably win (imho) 60% of the time but the '81 team could grind out a victory if things went their way.

JuggernautJ wrote:I've always thought of those two Bengals teams as completely different teams.

As different as Forrest Gregg and Sam Wyche.
As different as Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason.

The '88 Bengals would probably win (imho) 60% of the time but the '81 team could grind out a victory if things went their way.

The 1981 Bengals were also very lucky in having the weather on their side for the AFC Championship Game. Had it been played under better conditions, I think the game would have been a toss up.

I may be in the minority, but I prefer the 1981 team for many reasons:

- The other three teams in their division were playoff-bound the years before
- I prefer Ken Anderson and Pete Johnson over Boomer Esiason and Ickey Woods (although the 1988 version were the top rushing team in the league that year)
- Also I prefer the 1981 defense, with veterans Jim LeClair and Ken Riley
- It was their first season with the striped helmets

Teo wrote:I may be in the minority, but I prefer the 1981 team for many reasons:

- The other three teams in their division were playoff-bound the years before
- I prefer Ken Anderson and Pete Johnson over Boomer Esiason and Ickey Woods (although the 1988 version were the top rushing team in the league that year)
- Also I prefer the 1981 defense, with veterans Jim LeClair and Ken Riley
- It was their first season with the striped helmets

I agree with you on Anderson, but I liked Ickey more than Pete Johnson.

As for their defenses, though, I think that the 88 team had a better secondary overall, but both versions lacked a dynamic edge rusher (they could have had Andre Tippett in 82 and Haley or Tim Harris in 86) in their 3-4.

It depends. If the 1988 Bengals have regular season, MVP Boomer Esiason, I give them the edge. If they have postseason Boomer, I would favor the 1981 team.

Rupert Patrick wrote:
The 1981 Bengals were also very lucky in having the weather on their side for the AFC Championship Game. Had it been played under better conditions, I think the game would have been a toss up.

You're forgetting the Bengals destroyed the Chargers in San Diego during the season.