Ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals' season opener against Tampa Bay on Sept. 13, Cincinnati.com Bengals beat reporter Kelsey Conway, columnist Jason Williams, reporter Pat Brennan and sports editor Jason Hoffman make their annual season predictions. Here is their final record and game-by-game predictions:
Conway: 11-6
Williams: 10-7
Brennan: 11-6
Week 1: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers , 1 p.m., Sept. 13, FOX
Conway: After a disastrous 2025 season, the Bengals have completely changed the vibes around the team. They just enjoyed one of the most productive, low drama training camps the franchise has seen in years. They will be ready to play in front of their home fans and deliver a win to start the season strong. Pick: Bengals 27, Buccaneers 20
Williams: Tampa Bay hasn't lost a season opener since 2020, and coach
Todd Bowles does a fantastic job developing pass-rush game plans. The Bucs are one of those competitive teams that can beat anyone, and it all doesn't bode well for the traditionally slow-starting Bengals. Pick: Buccaneers 24, Bengals 21
Brennan: Now in the last year of his contract, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield seems to have a bigger chip on his shoulder than usual, and something to prove. That's a scary proposition for a revamped but yet-to-be-truly-tested Cincinnati defense because Mayfield has the ingredients to not only make it a long day at Paycor Stadium, but he could actually will Tampa to a win. Cincinnati will hang on for the victory, but get ready for a tight one. Pick: Bengals 31, Buccaneers 30.
Week 2: Bengals at Houston Texans, 1 p.m., Sept. 20, CBS
Conway: Houston's defense was the NFL's best in 2025, and they return majority of the group. With this game being on the road, I expect the Bengals' offense to struggle a bit, and ultimately not be able to score enough points to win the game. Pick: Texans 21, Bengals 10
Williams: Not an ideal Game 2 for the Bengals – on the road against a team that's gone to the playoffs three straight seasons and is expected to contend for the postseason again. Pick: Texans 23, Bengals 20
Brennan: It's the home opener for a Texans team that expects to contend and has solid quarterback play. All those ingredients make this too tall of an order for the Bengals in the Week 2 stage of their development. Pick: Texans 28, Bengals 17.
Week 3: Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., Sept 27, CBS
Conway: The Bengals understand that if they want to contend for the AFC North title, they must sweep the Steelers. If Cincinnati's offensive line can hold up against Pittsburgh's defensive front, the Bengals can exploit what I expect to be a weak Pittsburgh secondary. Pick: Bengals 34, Steelers 21
Williams: The Bengals offense gets settled in, and this is where Cincinnati puts it all together. Expect the Bengals’ stars to shine in this rivalry game, as Joe Burrow and Dexter Lawrence will have a big day. Pick: Bengals 28, Steelers 17
Brennan: The Bengals have to handle their business in the AFC North − period. Awareness of that fact, plus the fact that the Steelers are in some kind of a half-reset (new coaching staff, same Aaron Rodgers at quarterback), spells Cincinnati finding a way to win in the Steel City. Pick: Bengals 24, Steelers 20.
Week 4: Bengals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., Oct. 4, CBS
Conway: This will be a home game the Bengals are likely favored in by a lot. But this seems like the typical game the Bengals will be expected to win but could end up being one they let slip through their hands. Jacksonville was a surprise team last year, winning 13 games under Liam Coen in his first season as head coach. He’s a good coach who understands how to get Trevor Lawrence playing at a high level. Pick: Jaguars 31, Bengals 24
Williams: Jacksonville is coming off a surprising 2025 season in which the Jaguars won the AFC South. They'll be looking to take the next step this season. Last team with the ball wins this entertaining, high-scoring game. The Bengals' rebuilt defense gets a big stop late. Pick: Bengals 35, Jaguars 31
Brennan: The Jaguars have vivid memories of knocking Burrow out of the game at Paycor Stadium last year, but somehow still losing to a team quarterbacked by Jake Browning. Jacksonville will have that disappointment on their minds as they come back to Paycor and take care of their unfinished business. Pick: Jaguars 31, Bengals 28.
Week 5: Bengals at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., Oct. 11, FOX
Conway: Miami doesn't have a quarterback who can go toe-to-toe with Burrow. This needs to be a game the Bengals dominate and I expect them to do so. Pick: Bengals 34, Dolphins 17
Williams: The Dolphins are expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. Look for the Bengals to do what they did in Miami late last season – move the ball at will. Pick: Bengals 42, Dolphins 13
Brennan: The Dolphins stink. This won't be pretty for Miami. Pick: Bengals 41, Dolphins 17.
Week 6: BYE WEEK
Week 7: Bengals at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m., Oct. 25, CBS
Conway: Road games in the division are always a challenge. Baltimore has a brand-new coaching staff this season and by this point, I expect their offense to be functioning at a higher level. I have the Bengals and Ravens splitting the series, with each team winning the game at their respective home stadium. Pick: Ravens 24, Bengals 10
Williams: Too bad this isn't in primetime. Former Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson will face his old team for the first time since signing with Baltimore. It'll also be new Ravens coach Jesse Minter's first game in the AFC North rivalry. But this game belongs to Burrow, who'll lead his team to victory in Baltimore for the second straight year. Pick: Bengals 28, Ravens 24
Brennan: This is going to be the toughest divisional game of 2026 for Cincinnati, and the Bengals will have extra preparation for it via the bye week. Perfect timing for Cincinnati because this is a head-to-head between the AFC North's two frontrunners. Pick: Bengals 27, Ravens 24.
Week 8: Bengals vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., Nov. 1, CBS
Conway: This game will be closer than it probably should, but the Bengals have a far better team than the Titans. Tennessee won't be able to hang on offense, and Cincinnai will win. Pick: Bengals 34, Titans 24
Williams: The Titans are bad. Bengals cruise in this one. Pick: Bengals 35, Titans 17
Brennan: This will be an ugly and unsatisfying victory for Cincinnati. The Bengals will be a week out from their first game on European soil since 2019, and with that comes ticket requests, travel arrangements for family and significant others, and so on. Amidst ample distractions, the Bengals stumble into a victory against an overmatched Titans team. Pick: Bengals 30, Titans 27.
Week 9: Bengals at Atlanta Falcons, 9:30 a.m., Nov. 8, NFL Network
Conway: Burrow has been asking for an international game for a few years now. It’s hard to see him not playing his best. The Falcons’ quarterback situation is a mess, and regardless of if Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix is starting, it won’t be enough. Pick: Bengals 21, Falcons 13
Williams: Burrow on an international stage. He was made for games like this. Pick: Bengals 20, Falcons 14
Brennan: Burrow will look right at home at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home field of famous Spanish soccer club, Real Madrid. The stadium has served as the home field to some of the greatest soccer players of all time. This will be a classic case of Burrow seizing the moment on a grand stage and manifesting a game to remember (against a bad Falcons team). Pick: Bengals 41, Falcons 10.
Week 10: Bengals vs. Steelers, 8:20 p.m., Nov. 15, NBC Sunday Night Football
Conway: This game has the makings to be one that doesn’t fall in the Bengals favor on a short week returning from Madrid, Spain. But I believe the Bengals will sweep the Steelers this season because I don’t think much of Pittsburgh’s roster this season. Pick: Bengals 17, Steelers 14
Williams: Aaron Rodgers threw four TDs and dinked and dunked the Bengals' defense in last season's primetime game at Paycor Stadium, but the Bengals held on for the rare close victory. Look for the Steelers to avenge the Week 3 loss and get their fifth win in the last six seasons in Cincinnati. Pick: Steelers 23, Bengals 21
Brennan: The NFL schedule-makers don't bake in rest time coming off games abroad like they used to, so get ready to see a sluggish Bengals team. But Cincinnati still finds a way to sweep the season series against Pittsburgh because, just like in their first meeting of the year, Cincinnati knows it can't afford to drop this one if they're going to achieve their lofty goals. Pick: Bengals 20, Steelers 17.
Week 11: Bengals at Washington Commanders, 8:15 p.m., Nov. 23, ESPN Monday Night Football
Conway: This is the game where I think the travel from an international game and a primetime game gets to the Bengals. Two years ago, the Bengals were supposed to dominate the Commanders on “Monday Night Football” and got blown out. When healthy, Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels has been a problem. Pick: Commanders 27, Bengals 21
Williams: Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels is coming off a rough 2025 season. But remember, he burst onto the NFL scene with a breakout, primetime performance at Paycor Stadium in 2024. He'll follow that script to end. Pick: Commanders 30, Bengals 27
Brennan: You've got to be reasonable about this game, which the Bengals will lose. Cincinnati will be coming off hosting a division rival on Sunday Night Football and playing in Madrid a week prior to that. There's no way the Bengals go 3-0 in that stretch, but they'll still look competitive while running on fumes against the Commanders. Nothing to panic about here. The Bengals are only human. Pick: Commanders 31, Bengals 21.
Week 12: Bengals vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., Nov. 29, CBS
Conway: The Bengals are a better team than the Saints. This will be a win for the Bengals. Pick: Bengals 45, Saints 21
Williams: Good time for a warmup game for a December playoff push. Pick: Bengals 42, Saints 20
Brennan: Even a tired Bengals team with a short week of preparation is good enough to trounce the Saints. Pick: Bengals 40, Saints 10.
Week 13: Bengals at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., Dec. 6, CBS
Conway: It's hard to predict who will be the starting quarterback for Cleveland, and it won’t matter. The Bengals won’t have Myles Garrett to deal with for the first time in the Burrow era. It won’t be pretty as it never is in Cleveland, but Cincinnati wins. Pick: Bengals 21, Browns 13
Williams: Zac Taylor's teams play like dog doo-doo in the Dawg Pound. The Bengals were lucky to win in Cleveland last season, but the Browns won't be in such a giving mood. Pick: Browns 20, Bengals 13
Brennan: The Bengals don't play well on the shores of Lake Erie, but they're too far along in their mission to return to the postseason at this point to be too bothered by the Browns. Pick: Bengals 28, Browns 17.
Week 14: Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m., Dec. 13, FOX
Conway: This has the makings to be the game of the year in the AFC. I fully expect the Bengals and Chiefs to be in competition for the AFC’s top seed at this point in the season. Ultimately, I think veteran head coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnulo will have a game plan that will create challenges for the Bengals. Pick: Chiefs 31, Bengals 28
Williams: It won't be like those Bengals-Chiefs battles of a few years ago, when these were the elite teams in the AFC. But hey, it's still the Chiefs. Burrow vs. Patrick Mahomes. National TV. Playoff hunt. Paycor will be rockin'. Pick: Bengals 24, Chiefs 23
Brennan: A late-season, late-afternoon primetime game against the Chiefs? Paycor Stadium will be the hottest ticket in America. Burrow makes it an evening for Cincinnati to savor. Pick: Bengals 29, Chiefs 28.
Week 15: Bengals at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., Dec. 20, FOX
Conway: The Panthers were a team that got hot at the end of the 2025 season, but I don’t see it continuing in 2026. Bengals are rolling at this point in the season. Pick: Bengals 38, Panthers 14
Williams: Burrow is 2-0 in his career against Carolina, both double-digit victories. No way he'll lose this one in a playoff push. Pick: Bengals 35, Panthers 20
Brennan: On the road in Charlotte following an exhilarating win against the Chiefs smells like a potential letdown. Pick: Panthers 29, Bengals 24.
Week 16: Bengals at Indianapolis Colts, TBD, Dec. 26 or Dec. 27
Conway: I expect the Colts to be a good team this year if quarterback Daniel Jones can stay healthy. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will lean on his experience coaching against Burrow and Co. every day in practice when he served as the Bengals’ defensive coordinator for six seasons, and I think Indy will win this game. Pick: Colts 21, Bengals 17
Williams: It will be the first time seeing Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo since he was fired by the Bengals after the 2024 season. He'll draw up the perfect game plan to frustrate Burrow and the Bengals' receivers. Pick: Colts 21, Bengals 17
Brennan: The Lou Anarumo Revenge Game. Pick: Colts 24, Bengals 16.
Week 17: Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m., Dec. 31, Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football
Conway: This game will be electric at Paycor Stadium. The Bengals will understand the magnitude of this game and will play well in front of a massive crowd. Pick: Bengals 28, Ravens 22
Williams: Finally, the Bengals get a primetime home game against the Ravens after playing at night in Baltimore the last four seasons. Minter will return to Cincinnati, where he played college ball at Mount Saint Joseph University. This is for the AFC North championship. The Ravens will get payback for the early season loss in an overtime thriller, ending the Bengals' playoff hopes. Pick: Ravens 41, Bengals 38
Brennan: The Ravens have playoff-caliber talent and are desperate to gain ground in the postseason race. They solidify their place in the standings by winning at Paycor Stadium. Pick: Ravens 31, Bengals 24.
Week 18: Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns, TBD, Jan. 9 or Jan. 10
Conway: Once again, the Bengals will close out their regular season against the Browns. This will be a win, with Cincinnati playing for seeding in the AFC at this point. Pick: Bengals 34, Browns 10
Williams: The Bengals need this one to lock up a playoff spot, and they'll take care of business. Pick: Bengals 24, Browns 14
Brennan: Spark the locker room stogies. This is the proverbial "hat and t-shirt game" for the Bengals because they'll clinch the AFC North with a win. Welcome back to "the tournament." Pick: Bengals 29, Browns 10.
Postseason predictions for the Cincinnati Bengals
Conway: The Bengals will be the AFC's No. 2 seed and host a playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers. I have the Bengals advancing to the divisional round and beating the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium to advance to the AFC Championship Game in Kansas City where the season will come to an end.
Williams: The Bengals win on the road in the wild-card game, but will lose to Buffalo in the divisional round.
Brennan: The Bengals get on a roll at Paycor Stadium by winning the wild card game and hosting the divisional round, but that's where the run ends as the Broncos trip Cincinnati up in the second round.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Our experts predict Cincinnati Bengals season. Check it out
