Friday, April 4, 2003
First five games will test Bengals
Schedule includes visit to AFC champs
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Coach Marvin Lewis' first Bengals team will be tested in its first five games of 2003.
The regular-season schedule, released Thursday by the NFL, has the Bengals opening at home against traditional AFC power Denver.
The Bengals then head to Oakland to play the defending AFC champions, who finished 11-5. Bengals teams have lost 39 games in a row on the road to clubs with winning records, a streak that dates to December 1990.
Next are a home game against defending AFC North champion Pittsburgh, a trip to Cleveland and a reunion trip to Buffalo. The Bills now employ former Bengals linebacker and defensive captain Takeo Spikes, former Bengals defensive line coach Tim Krumrie and head coach Dick LeBeau - assistant head coach to Gregg Williams.
Oakland, Pittsburgh and Cleveland all made the playoffs last season, and Denver and Buffalo just missed.
"We've been presented with the chance to earn respect the right away," Lewis said. "Our first five games are against some very tough opposition."
The Bengals were 0-4 in September last season, en route to a franchise-worst 2-14 record. The Bengals are a combined 9-36 in games played before Oct. 1 since last making the playoffs in 1990. The Bengals' 12-year playoff drought is the longest in the parity-driven NFL.
Not one of the 2003 games is in prime time. The Bengals had their first national night game in four years Sept. 22 but lost 30-3 at Atlanta.
The Bengals also will seek their first victory in the AFC North. The Bengals were 0-6 against the division in its first season of existence after realignment. The Browns, Ravens and Steelers outscored the Bengals 175-105.
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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
2003 schedule
Preseason
