17 Dec 1988: Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allspo
The 1985 Bengals lost to Washington in the penultimate game eventually costing Cincinnati a playoff spot.
The Bengals needed to win their penultimate game of the 1985 season at Washington to keep their playoff hopes alive. After getting out to a big lead Cincinnati allowed Washington back into the game and ultimately lost in a game that was a microcosm of the Bengals history.
In 1985 Cincinnati was seeking its first playoff appearance in three seasons and just their sixth in their 18th season as a franchise. Cincinnati had been competitive throughout most of its history until that point.