If you’re a betting man or woman, you could be heavily riding on the Cincinnati Bengals this season.
Not only do the Bengals have the third-easiest strength of schedule this season, but they’re also favorites in a lot of games.
In fact, only the Los Angeles Rams are favored in more games.
Fifteen games the Bengals are favored in. That’s
15 of 17. Remarkable, for a team coming off a 6-11 season and still facing major questions going into this season.
Playing both the AFC and NFC South divisions offers an advantage for the Bengals. Those divisions are probably two of the weaker divisions in the NFL, so the opportunity is there for a lot of wins there.
That said, the first four games are more difficult than some may think. Three teams that made the NFL Playoffs in 2025 are in the first four games, including two AFC South teams in the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars. We know the Texans have a ferociously good defense, and the Jaguars are coming off a 13-win season. In addition, Pittsburgh… well, you know how they are.
But after Week 10, the Bengals do not face a team that finished with a winning record in 2025. Even with a lot more prime time games and featured national games, the Bengals have games against teams like New Orleans, Cleveland twice, and Indianapolis. Even Washington, Kansas City, Carolina, and Baltimore all had losing records last season.
The opportunity is there for the Bengals. Now, it all comes down to them winning games in 2026.
