Editing Super Bowl XVI (section)

===Cincinnati Bengals===
{{main|1981 Cincinnati Bengals season}}

The Bengals finished with the best regular-season record in the AFC at 12–4. Cincinnati was also a surprise team because, like the 49ers, they had recorded a 6–10 record the [[1980 Cincinnati Bengals season|previous season]]. Entering the 1981 season, the Bengals had never won a playoff game in their entire history.

Quarterback [[Ken Anderson (quarterback)|Ken Anderson]] (who had the best season of his career) was the top [[passer rating|rated passer]] in the league and won both the [[NFL Most Valuable Player Award]] and the [[NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award]]. He completed 300 of 479 passes (62.6%) for 3,754 yards, 29 touchdowns and ten interceptions. Anderson was also an outstanding scrambler, rushing for 320 yards and one touchdown, leading all NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards.

The Bengals' main deep threat was rookie wide receiver [[Cris Collinsworth]], who caught 67 passes for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns. Tight end [[Dan Ross (American football)|Dan Ross]] had 71 receptions for 910 yards and five touchdowns, while wide receivers [[Isaac Curtis]] and [[Steve Kreider]] each recorded 37 receptions, combining for a total of 1,129 yards and nine touchdowns.  Fullback [[Pete Johnson (American football, born 1954)|Pete Johnson]] was the leading rusher on the team with 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was also a good receiver out of the backfield, catching 46 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns. Halfback [[Charles Alexander (running back)|Charles Alexander]] contributed 554 all-purpose yards and 28 receptions. A big reason for Cincinnati's production on offense was their line, led by future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] tackle [[Anthony Muñoz]] and guard [[Max Montoya]]. On special teams, punter [[Pat McInally]] made the Pro Bowl with a 45.4 yards-per-punt average.

The Bengals also had a good defense that had not given up more than 30 points in any game that season. Their line was anchored by defensive ends [[Ross Browner]] and [[Eddie Edwards (American football)|Eddie Edwards]], who did a great job stopping the run. Cincinnati's defense was also led by defensive backs [[Louis Breeden]] and [[Ken Riley]], and linebackers [[Bo Harris]], [[Jim LeClair]] and [[Reggie Williams (linebacker)|Reggie Williams]], who intercepted four passes and recovered three fumbles.