The NFL schedules have been released, and now we not only know who the Bengals play and where, but when. We also found out they’ll be playing overseas when they face the Falcons on November 8 in Madrid in Week 9 — so set your alarms, because they kick off at 9:30 a.m.
Now we’re only waiting on the Bengals to start OTAs on June 1. Until then, there’s not much to do other than attempt to predict the future.
So here’s my attempt to predict the Bengals’ record, going game by game.
Week 1 – vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sun. 1 p.m.
I think the Bucs have
the potential to be a solid team in 2026. I’m a Baker believer, but I also have the sense that the Bengals are a coiled steel spring. After three straight seasons of missing the playoffs, I think they explode offensively and defensively and set the tone for the entire season.
Record: 1-0
Week 2 – at Houston Texans – Sun. 1 p.m.
The Texans are going to be good. I’m kind of 50/50 on this game. It’s hard to win on the road in the NFL, and I’m going to say the Bengals’ offseason kinks won’t be worked out yet. Houston takes a close one.
Record: 1-1
Week 3 – at Pittsburgh Steelers – Sun. 1 p.m.
Aaron Rodgers is back, but I’m not overly inspired. I think the Bengals sweep the Steelers in 2026.
Record: 2-1
Week 4 – vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – Sun. 1 p.m.
Another 1 p.m. game to start the season. I think Joe Burrow and the Bengals beat the Jaguars, and hopefully the offense will already be humming by this point.
Record: 3-1
Week 5 – at Miami Dolphins – Sun. 1 p.m.
The Dolphins are in a complete rebuild. Tua is gone, and Malik Willis currently sits atop the depth chart. The Bengals head into the bye week sitting at .800.
Record: 4-1
Week 6 – Bye
Week 7 – at Baltimore Ravens – Sun. 1 p.m.
It’s clear the two teams battling for the division will be the Bengals and Ravens. I think they split the series. The Bengals drop their divisional matchup coming out of the bye.
Record: 4-2
Week 8 – vs. Tennessee Titans – Sun. 1 p.m.
This is another team working through a rebuild. Cam Ward is still the quarterback, but Robert Saleh is now the head coach. I think he’s a good coach, but I don’t think he’ll have the Titans where they need to be yet to upset Cincinnati.
Record: 5-2
Week 9 – vs. Atlanta Falcons – Sun. 9:30 a.m.
Here’s the Bengals’ first primetime game — although technically only because it’ll be one of just two games on at 9:30 a.m. The Falcons are now turning to Kevin Stefanski to call the shots. He knows the Bengals well, but the roster talent feels way too lopsided here, especially in what is essentially a home game for Cincinnati.
Record: 6-2
Week 10 – vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – Sun. 8:20 p.m.
Under the lights on Sunday Night Football, the Bengals complete the sweep of the Steelers on their way to what feels like a special season.
Record: 7-2
Week 11 – at Washington Commanders – Mon. 8:15 p.m.
Remember when I said it’s hard to win on the road in the NFL? It’s doubly true in primetime. I think the Bengals drop one on Monday Night Football against a pretty solid Commanders team.
Record: 7-3
Week 12 – vs. New Orleans Saints – Sun. 1 p.m.
Back to the normal 1 p.m. slot, and back to winning.
Record: 8-3
Week 13 – at Cleveland Browns – Sun. 1 p.m.
Myles Garrett and the Browns have been a thorn in the Bengals’ side for a long time. Burrow still has a losing record against Cleveland, and I think it gets a little worse here. The Bengals drop one they should probably win. It happens, even in good years.
Record: 8-4
Week 14 – vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Sun. 4:25 p.m.
The Bengals face the Chiefs at home after three straight matchups at Arrowhead. The last time these teams played in Cincinnati, the Bengals went to the Super Bowl. They get a season-defining win against Kansas City here.
Record: 9-4
Week 15 – at Carolina Panthers – Sun. 1 p.m.
An offense led by Burrow at this point in the season should outduel Bryce Young and the Panthers.
Record: 10-4
Week 16 – at Indianapolis Colts – TBD
At this point, the Bengals have likely locked up the division — and if not, they will in Week 17 — while the race for the No. 1 seed is fully in play. Indy just doesn’t have the roster to compete.
Record: 11-4
Week 17 – vs. Baltimore Ravens – TNF 8:15 p.m. (New Year’s Eve)
The Bengals finally host the Ravens under the lights in the regular season. They win this one in a close game with echoes of their Wild Card victory from January 2023.
Record: 12-4
Week 18 – vs. Cleveland Browns – TBD
With the division title secured, the Bengals decide to go for the win instead of resting starters for the playoffs. In doing so, they defeat the Browns and lock up the No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history.
Record: 13-4
It’s obvious this is a really hopeful projection, but I see real potential in this team. The offense is among the best in the league, and if everyone stays healthy, there’s no reason it can’t be the best — or at least top five.
Defensively, the additions of Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook, and this year’s draft class give this unit a chance to be more than just mediocre, which is really all they need to make a deep playoff run.
With a little luck — because every season needs some — the Bengals could turn 2026 into one we remember for a very long time.
Who Dey!
Yeah, leave behind your sorrows
Let this day be the last
Well, tomorrow there’ll be sunshine
And all this darkness past
