Reading Joe Reedy's rundown of the Cincinnati Bengals record during primetime games at the Cincinnati Enquirer comes with some risk.
Since hiring head coach Marvin Lewis, the Cincinnati Bengals have amassed a 4-10 record during night games, though currently on an eight-game losing streak in which they've lost by an average 18.6 points per game. The Bengals have also lost nine of their last 10 primetime games, with their most recent win coming against the Baltimore Ravens in 2007 on Monday Night Football.
An equally disturbing point beyond the eight-game losing streak, is how badly they're played with only two losses within a touchdown -- and one of those games, the Steelers were mostly in total control with a 20-7 half time lead.
Since NBC took over Sunday Night football, the Bengals are winless on two tries, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers (2007) and the New York Jets (2009). The latter being the regular season finale in 2009 in which Cincinnati had already clinched their postseason berth and couldn't gain nor lose position. The New York Jets, on the other hand, needed a win to clinch.
Cincinnati has played the Pittsburgh Steelers three times during primetime games during the Marvin Lewis tenure, losing all three by an average 12.3 points.
During the Marvin Lewis era:
SEASON | DATE | PROGRAM | OPP. | RESULT |
2012 | Sept. 10 | Monday Night Football | @ Baltimore Ravens | L, 13-44 |
2010 | Nov. 25 | Thursday Night Football (NFLN) | @ NY Jets | L, 10-26 |
2010 | Nov. 8 | Monday Night Football | Pittsburgh Steelers | L, 21-27 |
2009 | Jan. 3 | Sunday Night Football | @ NY Jets | L, 0-37 |
2008 | Nov. 20 | Thursday Night Football (NFLN) | @ Pittsburgh Steelers | L, 10-27 |
2007 | Dec. 15 | Thursday Night Football (NFLN) | @ San Francisco 49ers | L, 13-20 |
2007 | Dec. 2 | Sunday Night Football | @ Pittsburgh Steelers | L, 10-24 |
2007 | Oct. 1 | Monday Night Football | New England Patriots | L,13-34 |
2007 | Sept. 10 | Monday Night Football | Baltimore Ravens | W, 27-20 |
2006 | Dec. 18 | Monday Night Football | @ Indianapolis Colts | L, 16-34 |
2006 | Nov. 30 | Thursday Night Football (NFLN) | Baltimore Ravens | W, 13-7 |
2005 | Oct. 9 | Sunday Night Football (ESPN) | @ Jacksonville Jaguars | L, 20-23 |
2004 | Oct. 25 | Monday Night Football | Denver Broncos | W, 23-10 |
2004 | Sept. 19 | Sunday Night Football (ESPN) | Miami Dolphins | W, 16-13 |
From 1990-2002:
SEASON | DATE | PROGRAM | OPP. | RESULT |
2002 | Sept. 22 | Sunday Night Football (ESPN) | @ Atlanta Falcons | L, 3-30 |
1998 | Sept. 27 | Sunday Night Football (ESPN) | @ Baltimore Ravens | L, 24-31 |
1997 | Dec. 4 | Sunday Night Football (ESPN) | Tennessee Oilers | W, 41-14 |
1996 | Oct. 6 | Thursday Night Football (TNT) | Houston Oilers | L, 27-30 |
1995 | Oct. 19 | Thursday Night Football (TNT) | @ Pittsburgh Steelers | W, 27-9 |
1994 | Oct. 2 | Thursday Night Football (TNT) | Miami Dolphins | L, 23-7 |
1993 | Dec. 5 | Sunday Night Football (ESPN) | @ San Francisco 49ers | L, 8-21 |
1992 | Nov. 8 | Sunday Night Football (ESPN) | @ Chicago Bears | W, 31-28 |
1992 | Oct. 19 | Monday Night Football | @ Pittsburgh Steelers | L, 0-20 |
1991 | Dec. 9 | Monday Night Football | @ Miami Dolphins | L, 13-37 |
1991 | Oct. 21 | Monday Night Football | @ Buffalo Bills | L, 16-35 |
1991 | Sept. 8 | Sunday Night Football (TNT) | Houston Oilers | L, 7-30 |
1990 | Nov. 18 | Sunday Night Football (ESPN) | Pittsburgh Steelers | L, 3-27 |
1990 | Oct. 28 | Thursday Night Football (TNT) | @ Atlanta Falcons | L, 17-38 |
1990 | Oct. 22 | Monday Night Football | @ Cleveland Browns | W, 34-13 |
1990 | Oct. 1 | Monday Night Football | @ Seattle Seahawks | L, 16-31 |