Our capsule summaries of the 16 games that made up the 2003 season.

YEAR IN REVIEW

• Lewis not satisfied, but says foundation is solid • Teammate: 'Good riddance,' Corey • The envelope please ... • 2003 season recap • 2003 storylines • Lewis plans no changes, credits his co-workers • 17th pick could bolster defense • Major free agent acquisitions pay off in starting lineup • Johnson a hot property • Kitna wants to stay Bengal • Rookie class makes immediate contributions • Season stats

BRONCOS 30, BENGALS 10

Sept. 7, Paul Brown Stadium.

Storyline: Coming off a 2-14 season and with a new head coach, the Bengals allowed Denver to take a 27-3 lead by the third quarter.

Noteworthy: Denver's Clinton Portis rushed for 120 yards and two TDs.

Quotable: "I'm disappointed for our fans. ... We're not going to disappoint them every Sunday like this. Hang with us; we'll be back." - coach Marvin Lewis.

RAIDERS 23, BENGALS 20

Sept. 14, Network Associates Coliseum.

Storyline: The Bengals tied the game with 1:18 remaining, but Oakland drove 55 yards for the winning field goal.

Noteworthy: Through two games, Jon Kitna had two TD passes and four INTs, two returned for TDs.

Quotable: "I think this is going to be the turning point in our season. Everybody's going to look back on this and say, 'This is how we're supposed to play.' " - defensive tackle John Thornton.

STEELERS 17, BENGALS 10

Sept. 21, Paul Brown Stadium.

Storyline: The Bengals drove inside the Pittsburgh 40-yard line the first three times they had the ball but came away with no points.

Noteworthy: The Bengals started 0-3 for the fourth time in five seasons.

Quotable: "They're getting better. Give them another year. They're playing hard." - Steelers defensive tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen, a former Bengal.

BENGALS 21, BROWNS 14

Sept. 28, Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Storyline: After losing their first three games, the Bengals gave Marvin Lewis his first victory as an NFL head coach.

Noteworthy: QB Jon Kitna was 23-of-31 passing for 215 yards and three TDs.

Quotable: "The tree's not going to fall the first couple of chops. He's trying to give us the mentality that ... we're not the same old Bengals. Keep chopping, and pretty soon that tree will fall." - offensive tackle Willie Anderson.

BILLS 22, BENGALS 16 (OT)

Oct. 5, Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Storyline: The Bengals took a 16-13 lead with 5:33 remaining, but the Bills tied the game with 28 seconds left. The Bengals went three-and-out in overtime.

Noteworthy: Rudi Johnson made his first career start and scored on a 16-yard TD run. ... Former Bengals linebacker Takeo Spikes had 10 tackles. ... The Bengals dropped to 1-4 heading into their bye week.

Quotable: "Cincinnati is struggling with learning how to win." - Spikes.

BENGALS 34, RAVENS 26

Oct. 19, Paul Brown Stadium.

Storyline: Three first-half turnovers by the Ravens led to 17 points for the Bengals, who held off a Baltimore rally in the second half.

Noteworthy: Jon Kitna completed 16 of 27 passes for 274 yards and three TDs. ... The 34 points were the most scored by the Bengals since they moved into Paul Brown Stadium in 2000.

Quotable: "They put us in a hell of a hole in the first half, and we couldn't overcome it." - Ravens coach Brian Billick.

BENGALS 27, SEAHAWKS 24

Oct. 26, Paul Brown Stadium.

Storyline: The Bengals gained sole possession of second place in the AFC North. An interception by Jeff Burris with 1:52 left sealed the victory.

Noteworthy: Jon Kitna threw for 226 yards and two TDs, including the game-winner to Chad Johnson with 8:03 to play. ... Rudi Johnson rushed for 101 yards. ... The victory marked the Bengals' first two-game winning streak since 2001.

Quotable: "I think this is, with no question, our best team victory of the season." - coach Marvin Lewis.

CARDINALS 17, BENGALS 14

Nov. 2, Sun Devil Stadium.

Storyline: The Bengals could have had a three-game win streak for the first time since 1999 but fell to 3-5. Former Bengal Jeff Blake threw two TDs.

Noteworthy: Corey Dillon rushed seven times for 5 yards. ... Arizona's Marcel Shipp rushed for 141 yards. ... The Bengals did not get into Arizona territory in the second half.

Quotable: "We missed a big opportunity. We had an opportunity to play a team that's like us. They're fighting for their own identity." - coach Marvin Lewis.

BENGALS 34, TEXANS 27

Nov. 9, Paul Brown Stadium.

Storyline: The Bengals scored the last 10 points to win for the fourth time. Rudi Johnson ran for 182 of the Bengals' 240 rushing yards. His 43 carries were a Bengals record.

Noteworthy: The Bengals had possession for 41:15. The victory was the third in a row at home for the Bengals before a season-low home crowd of 50,437. ... Rookie Terrell Roberts' interception sealed the victory.

Quotable: "The way the game was going, I felt 10 times better. I knew I was doing something right and making things happen." - Johnson.

BENGALS 24, CHIEFS 19

Nov. 16, Paul Brown Stadium.

Storyline: The Bengals made good on Chad Johnson's guarantee of a victory against the previously unbeaten Chiefs and moved into a first-place tie with the Ravens in the AFC North.

Noteworthy: Peter Warrick's second TD, a 77-yard reception with 6:05 remaining, was the game-winner. ... The Bengals gained 422 yards, including Rudi Johnson's 165. The Bengals improved their record to 5-5, their best mark after 10 games since 1990.

Quotable: "He made plays that changed the whole outcome of the game." - receiver Kelley Washington on Warrick.

BENGALS 34, CHARGERS 27

Nov. 23, Qualcomm Stadium.

Storyline: The Bengals took a 14-0 lead and held off a fourth-quarter rally by the Chargers to win for the fifth time in six games.

Noteworthy: The Bengals tied a season high with 34 points and gained a season-high 454 yards. ... Corey Dillon rushed for 108 yards, his first 100-yard game of the season, and Rudi Johnson added 55. ... Jon Kitna threw for 243 yards and a career-high four TDs, three to Chad Johnson.

Quotable: "This is the most games I've ever won in a season, and we've still got five games left." - offensive guard Mike Goff.

BENGALS 24, STEELERS 20

Nov. 30, Heinz Field.

Storyline: The Bengals drove 52 yards on four plays for the victory. Jon Kitna threw 18 yards to Matt Schobel for the winning TD with 13 seconds left.

Noteworthy: Kitna threw three TD passes and no interceptions. ... Chad Johnson had 117 receiving yards. ... The victory was the Bengals' fourth in a row, a franchise first since 1995-96.

Quotable: "If you ask me what my personality is, it's a lot like Marvin Lewis'. As long as there is time on the clock, I'm going to keep fighting you." - Kitna.

RAVENS 31, BENGALS 13

Dec. 7, M&T Bank Stadium.

Storyline: Both teams entered with 7-5 records and tied for the lead in the AFC North. Chad Johnson was held to a season-worst two receptions for 15 yards.

Noteworthy: Baltimore's Jamal Lewis rushed for 180 yards and three TDs. ... The Ravens had possession for 32:56. ... The Bengals' 13 points were the fewest since Week 3. ... Marvin Lewis finished 1-1 against former boss Brian Billick.

Quotable: "I guarantee we're going to get to the playoffs. I said it, remember I said it. This game is a bump in the road." - right tackle Willie Anderson.

BENGALS 41, 49ERS 38

Dec. 14, Paul Brown Stadium.

Storyline: The Bengals moved back into a tie atop the AFC North with the Ravens, despite giving up the most points in franchise history in a win.

Noteworthy: Jon Kitna's two TD passes gave him a career-high 25. ... Rudi Johnson became the first Bengals running back to rush for 150 or more yards three times in a season. ... Kevin Hardy scored the first defensive TD of the season, a 10-yard fumble return.

Quotable: "The goal is to win the division." - center Rich Braham.

RAMS 27, BENGALS 10

Dec. 21, Edward Jones Dome.

Storyline: St. Louis' defensive speed controlled the tempo as the Bengals fell to 8-7 and a game behind Baltimore.

Noteworthy: Jon Kitna threw three INTs for the first time this year. ... Chad Johnson set a single-season franchise receiving yards record with 1,326. ... Corey Dillon became the club leader in yards from scrimmage (9,482).

Quotable: "In every area, they won the football game." - coach Marvin Lewis.

BROWNS 22, BENGALS 14

Dec. 28, Paul Brown Stadium.

Storyline: Needing a win to keep alive their playoff hopes, the Bengals were thwarted by the Browns.

Noteworthy: The Bengals defense allowed a season-high 264 rushing yards, 186 to Browns rookie running back Lee Suggs. ... Cincinnati finished 8-8 for the first time since 1996.

Quotable: "Hopefully everyone understands now what it takes to get to that next level, and we'll get it done next year." - linebacker Brian Simmons.

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