Cincinnati Bengals: Top 5 Season Openers of All-Time

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Dec 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tackle Eric Winston (73) and Denver Broncos tackle Michael Schofield (79) pass protect on defensive end Wallace Gilberry (95) in the second half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 20-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

3.) 2007: Bengals 27, Ravens 20

Cincinnati began the 2007 season with a prime time contest at home against Baltimore on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

The Bengals got the best of Ravens’ quarterback Steve McNair, causing four turnovers (an interception, three fumbles).

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Cincinnati took a 19-10 lead on a 34-yard fumble return touchdown by Landon Johnson, but Baltimore took a one-point advantage on a 63-yard punt return score by Ed Reed.

A touchdown pass from Palmer to T.J. Houshmandzadeh gave the Bengals a 27-20 lead, but Baltimore threatened in the final minutes after a Rudi Johnson fumble.

At the Bengals’ one-yard line, backup quarterback Kyle Boller tossed the apparent tying touchdown to Todd Heap, but the tight end was called for offensive pass interference which wiped out the score.

On 3rd and goal from the two-yard line, Cincinnati secured the win on an interception by defensive tackle Michael Myers in his first game with the Bengals, the only interception of his 11-year career.

2.) 2009: Broncos 12, Bengals 7

Not every moment on this list is a good one for Who Dey Nation.

The last time the Bengals hosted week one at Paul Brown Stadium was in 2009 when the Denver Broncos came to town.

After a paint-drying three quarters where two Matt Prater field goals gave Denver a 6-0 lead, Palmer led a nine-play, 91-yard drive capped off by a scoring plunge by Benson from a yard out that gave Cincinnati a 7-6 lead.

You know how this ends, though.

With Denver starting at their own 13-yard line, Kyle Orton’s pass down the side line was tipped in the air by Leon Hall and landed right in the lap of receiver Brandon Stokley, who outraced Dhani Jones for the game-winning 87-yard score.

Despite the circus loss in week one, the Bengals and Broncos would finish 2009 in different fashions.

Cincinnati swept their division in the regular season and won the AFC North with a 10-6 record. Denver started 6-0, but lost eight of their final 10 games to miss the playoffs at an 8-8 mark.

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