The Cincinnati Bengals’ schedule is finally here! While we have known who they would play for some time now, when and where they play their opponents can mean just as much as who they play.
This schedule has it all. An international game, a home game on New Year’s Eve, and a Sunday Night Football matchup with a division rival. After a very aggressive offseason, expectations for the Bengals are as high as they’ve been since the 2022 season.
Now that we know how the schedule played out, let’s take a look
at the toughest and easiest stretches of the schedule.
Toughest:
The first month of the season looks like it may be the hardest stretch of all. While they started 2-0 last season, the Bengals are historically slow starters in the Zac Taylor era. That, coupled with playing four playoff teams from last season, makes it arguably the most difficult stretch.
Say what you will about Baker Mayfield, but he has always seemed to have success against Cincinnati. He no longer has his former top target in Mike Evans, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have defensive end Ruben Bain, someone the Bengals had interest in before trading the 10th overall pick for Dexter Lawrence.
Week two on the road against the Houston Texans could be tough as well. Houston boasts one of the best defensive fronts in football and has a solid secondary to go with it. The jury is still out on Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, so the revamped Bengals defense will need to force him in to turnovers and give the offense as many chances to score as possible.
A second-straight road game in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers isn’t as daunting as it has been in the past. They’ll be starting 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers. That can ease our minds, but it is still an AFC North matchup. Pittsburgh always puts together a tough defense, and you just never know how that game can play out.
Closing out the first four games is a home meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Joe Burrow has had his way with Trevor Lawrence every time they have played, but Jacksonville could be a contender for the AFC South, and if Travis Hunter meets the hype, they could be a tough out.
Easiest:
No game in the NFL is “easy,” but some stretches of the schedule don’t seem as tough as others. In Weeks 5 through 9, the opponents aren’t as strong.
The Miami Dolphins appear to be in a rebuild, and nobody knows how Malik Willis will fare as a full-time starting quarterback. When the Bengals head to South Beach, they will likely be favored by a good amount heading in to that game.
After a bye, they take on the Baltimore Ravens, which is always a tough game. This year, the Bengals have the luxury of not having to play in Baltimore in prime time. With a first-time head coach in Jesse Minter and a roster that lost a lot of talent to free agency, the Bengals should have a good chance in this one.
Following that matchup, the Bengals will host the Tennessee Titans, who are coming off a 3-14 season and a full rebuild of their coaching staff. Second-year quarterback Cam Ward could take a large leap, but the Bengals should be able to handle the Titans, provided they stay healthy.
In Week 9, the Madrid game against the Atlanta Falcons, the Bengals should be heavy favorites as well. Michael Penix is still recovering from a torn ACL. If, for some reason, he isn’t playing, new head coach Kevin Stefanski will likely start Tua Tagoviliga. If the jet lag isn’t an issue, the Bengals should outmatch Atlanta on both sides of the ball.
Which game(s) are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments!
