When you think of all time great quarterbacks…why doesn’t the name of Ken Anderson ever come up? Ken Stabler …no problem Terry Bradshaw …no problem both played in the same time frame as Ken Anderson both received more recognition than Anderson. But for you stat freaks check these numbers out about Ken Anderson:
In his 16 NFL seasons, Anderson completed 2,654 of 4,475 passes (59.3%) for 32,838 yards and 197 touchdowns and 160 interceptions. He also gained 2,220 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 397 carries. His completions, passing yards, and touchdown passes are all Bengals records. His 2,220 rushing yards are the most ever by a Bengals quarterback. Anderson led the NFL in quarterback rating four times during his career (1974, ’75, ’81 and ’82) and led the league in passing yards twice (1974, 1975). He was selected to four Pro Bowls (1975-76 & 1981-82). Anderson was voted All-Pro in 1981, 2nd Team All-Pro in 1975 and 2nd Team All-AFC in 1974 & 1982.
As of 2017’s NFL off-season, Ken Anderson held at least 31 Bengals franchise records, including:
- Completions: career (2,654), game (40 on 1982-12-20 @SDG), playoffs (110), playoff season (53 in 1981)
- Pass Attempts: career (4,475), playoffs (166), playoff season (77 in 1981)
- Passing Yards: career (32,838), playoffs (1,321), playoff season (653 in 1981), playoff game (354 on 1983-01-09 NYJ)
- Passing TDs: career (197), playoffs (9), playoff season (5 in 1981), playoff game (2 on 1983-01-09 NYJ; with Boomer Esiason)
- Intercepted: career (160), season (22 in 1978; with Boomer Esiason, Jon Kitna), playoffs (6), playoff season (3 in 1982; with Boomer Esiason, Andy Dalton), playoff game (3 on 1983-01-09 NYJ, with Andy Dalton)
- Passer Rating: playoffs (93.5)
- Sacked: career (398), season (46 in 1979, with Andy Dalton), playoff game (5 on 1982-01-24 N SFO, with Boomer Esiason)
- Yds/Pass Att: playoffs (7.96), playoff season (10.11 in 1982), playoff game (10.11 on 1983-01-09 NYJ)
- Pass Yds/Game: season (277.2 in 1982), playoffs (220.2), playoff season (354 in 1982)
- 300+ yard passing games: playoffs (2)
Smallthoughts: Old School Tuesday spotlights Ken Anderson.