- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,135,677
- Reaction score
- 59
The 2026 regular season schedule for the NFL has been fully released. We had some leaks throughout the week, but now the full schedule is official and we now know the Cincinnati Bengals' path to the playoffs and, potentially, Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
That path will include plenty of speed bumps as the Bengals look to end a three-year postseason drought. Here are some of those speed bumps the team will have to navigate. This is our take on the three toughest games for the Bengals in 2026.
Traveling to M&T Bank Stadium hasn't been kind to the Bengals in recent years. In the last ten seasons, the Bengals have won in Baltimore just three times, including last Thanksgiving. The Ravens are healthy and ready to start a new era under new head coach Jesse Minter. If the Bengals want to reclaim the AFC North title, winning in Baltimore would go a long way towards getting back to the top of the divisional mountain.
The Texans are another team the Bengals have had trouble figuring out recently. Houston has won nine of the last 11 meetings between these two teams. The silver lining? Those two wins for the Bengals have come in Houston.
And if you thought their defense was scary last season, just wait until 2026. The Texans may very well have the best defense in the league. Joe Burrow and company will have their hands full in this one.
Yes, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is in recovery mode from his torn ACL and LCL, but there's a chance he is back for the Chiefs' season-opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. And yes, this offense may not be as explosive as they once were. But if Mahomes is healthy for this game, this will be another good test for the Bengals and their much-improved defense.
History is also currently on the Bengals' side in this matchup. The Bengals have won seven straight at home against the Chiefs. The last time Kansas City won in Cincinnati was way back in 1984.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: 3 hardest games on Bengals' 2026 schedule
Continue reading...
That path will include plenty of speed bumps as the Bengals look to end a three-year postseason drought. Here are some of those speed bumps the team will have to navigate. This is our take on the three toughest games for the Bengals in 2026.
Week 7 (Oct. 25) At Baltimore Ravens, 1:00
Traveling to M&T Bank Stadium hasn't been kind to the Bengals in recent years. In the last ten seasons, the Bengals have won in Baltimore just three times, including last Thanksgiving. The Ravens are healthy and ready to start a new era under new head coach Jesse Minter. If the Bengals want to reclaim the AFC North title, winning in Baltimore would go a long way towards getting back to the top of the divisional mountain.
Week 2 (Sept. 20) at Houston Texans, 1:00
The Texans are another team the Bengals have had trouble figuring out recently. Houston has won nine of the last 11 meetings between these two teams. The silver lining? Those two wins for the Bengals have come in Houston.
And if you thought their defense was scary last season, just wait until 2026. The Texans may very well have the best defense in the league. Joe Burrow and company will have their hands full in this one.
Week 14 (Dec. 13) vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25
Yes, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is in recovery mode from his torn ACL and LCL, but there's a chance he is back for the Chiefs' season-opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. And yes, this offense may not be as explosive as they once were. But if Mahomes is healthy for this game, this will be another good test for the Bengals and their much-improved defense.
History is also currently on the Bengals' side in this matchup. The Bengals have won seven straight at home against the Chiefs. The last time Kansas City won in Cincinnati was way back in 1984.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: 3 hardest games on Bengals' 2026 schedule
Continue reading...
