FOX 19 Sports Director Joe Danneman found it fascinating when I told him, on the latest Bengals Squad Show, that I do mock schedules. Therefore, this is my Mock Schedule for the Bengals ahead of the 2026 Season.
The entire NFL Schedule gets released on Thursday night at 8:oo PM ET, with the Bengals’ schedule getting unveiled at 7:30 PM ET that night.
So without further ado, here is my guess at how the 2026 Bengals schedule plays out.
Bengals 2026 Mock Schedule
Week 1: @ Houston Texans (Monday Night Football)
Joe Burrow vs. C.J. Stroud. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins vs. the
Texans’ secondary. The Bengals’ offensive line, which will enter as the best in the Joe Burrow era, will go up against the Texans’ ferocious defensive line. This matchup has a ton of strength-against-strength matchups within it.
Houston has been a thorn in the Bengals’ side for nearly 20 years now, and they beat the Bengals in Cincinnati back in Week 10 of the 2023 season. Burrow sustained his wrist injury four days later. This would be a highly entertaining Week 1 matchup.
Week 2: vs. Baltimore Ravens (Sunday Night Football)
Joe Burrow vs. Lamar Jackson is the subplot in this matchup. That’s how good of a matchup it is and how highly anticipated this game will be. Perhaps the biggest storyline going into this game will be Trey Hendrickson’s return to the Jungle since leaving the Bengals in free agency and signing with the Ravens.
Sunday Night Football on NBC in Week 2 will make this an early-season heavyweight fight that will determine early control in the AFC North.
Week 3: @ Pittsburgh Steelers (1:00 on CBS)
The last two times the Bengals played in Pittsburgh in Week 3, they won. Back-to-back AFC North games early in the season aren’t ideal, especially a road division game after a home division game in prime time. Pittsburgh isn’t a team that’s going to scare AFC North teams and teams around the NFL this season, but games against them are always physical battles. Joe Burrow has won three straight starts in Pittsburgh, so confidence should be high going into this game.
Week 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Thursday Night Football)
Believe it or not, the Jaguars hold a lot of significance in recent Bengals history. In Week 4 of the 2020 season, the Bengals beat the Jaguars for the first win of Joe Burrow’s career. One year later, the Bengals beat the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football in Week 4 on a night when the Bengals inducted their inaugural Ring of Honor class.
Two years later, Jake Browning led the Bengals to an unexpected win in Jacksonville on Monday Night Football in early December to ignite a late-season push. Last year, well, we don’t need to talk about that. What I’m looking forward to this season is seeing Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence lead their two teams, both with aspirations this season, in prime time.
Week 5: @ Washington Commanders (London)
Like the Jaguars, the Commanders also have a lot of significance to recent Bengals history. It’s not good, either. I just hope this time in London, the two teams don’t end in a tie.
Week 6: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1:00 on FOX)
A lot of teams will have their bye week after they go overseas early in the season. I hope the Bengals don’t do that and have their bye week later in the season. The good news is the Bengals’ schedule this season doesn’t have any long road trips in the United States, so they could have a home game or a short road trip the week after getting back from London.
I mocked a home game against Tampa Bay, a matchup between Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield. The two quarterbacks produced multiple great slugfests when Mayfield was quarterbacking the Browns, and this matchup could produce another one.
Week 7: @ Indianapolis Colts (1:00 on CBS)
For two NFL teams not in the same city, this is the shortest distance between two teams in the Bengals and Colts. This will be the first time the Bengals face former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, and the Colts’ defense also has several former Bengals defensive players on their team.
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: @ Baltimore Ravens (4:25 on CBS)
For the love of all things Skyline Chili, please do not schedule the Bengals for a Thursday night game in Baltimore. Just don’t. A 4:25 game on CBS on Sunday? That’s fine. On the second Sunday in November, this would be a great matchup.
Week 10: vs. Tennessee Titans (1:00 on FOX)
The Titans were a staple on the Bengals’ schedule for the first few seasons of the Joe Burrow era. There was the AFC Divisional game in 2021, the Week 12 game in 2022 when Ted Karras gave the International Peace sign to Titans’ fans, and there was the game in 2024 when Sam Hubbard caught a touchdown on the last snap of his career.
This season, the Bengals can’t overlook the Titans. They’re not contenders, but they’re not going to be a pushover this season.
Week 11: @ Atlanta Falcons (1:00 on CBS)
The last time Joe Burrow played a game in Atlanta was when he was quarterbacking LSU to the National Championship. In the CFP Semifinals against Oklahoma in Atlanta, Burrow threw for seven touchdowns in the first half. Not to mention, Burrow threw for 481 yards in his only start against the Falcons back in Week 7 of 2022.
Fireworks could be expected again.
Week 12: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Black Friday, 3:00 on Prime Video)
This would be awesome. Steelers-Bengals on Black Friday. That’s what this rivalry deserves.
Week 13: @ Cleveland Browns (1:00 on CBS)
Road trips to Cleveland are never fun, especially in December. Just handle your business and get out of Cleveland with a win.
Week 14: @ Miami Dolphins (1:00 on FOX)
A second straight season with a road trip to Miami in December. Joe Burrow threw for four touchdowns and 300 yards against the Dolphins last season. He should do so again this season against a Dolphins team that’s going nowhere this season.
Week 15: vs. New Orleans Saints (1:00 on FOX)
The Saints are one of the most interesting teams going into the NFL this season. Tyler Shough may be the answer at quarterback, and they have some nice pieces around him. But can they compete with the Bengals’ offense in the cold? That would be the question in this game.
Week 16: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Christmas Night on FOX)
This is about as good as it gets. Christmas night in the Jungle against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, with Tom Brady on the call for FOX. Sign me up for this.
Week 17: @ Carolina Panthers (TBD)
Joe Burrow has not faced Bryce Young yet, so that makes this matchup intriguing. I think this game has the chance of being a stand-alone game.
Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns (TBD)
Just please don’t lose to the Browns at home, again.
