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The Cincinnati Bengals won’t have an easy path in 2026.
In the aftermath of the NFL schedule release, the Bengals have some season-deciding games in key spots. And the bye week…not exactly friendly to the Bengals.
With the schedule now public, here’s a quick early rundown of how the Bengals could end up doing against the slate.
Rueben Bain might’ve been the pick at No. 10. Instead, he gets a chance to sack Joe Burrow in his NFL debut. The good news? The Bengals have the best line of the Burrow era and these Bucs finished 3-8 down the stretch last year.
Prediction: W (1-0)
The Bengals just…don’t do well against the Texans. Houston has won nine of the last 11. A still-gelling Bengals defense will have some problems.
Prediction: L (1-1)
Aaron Rodgers? Probably not a big deal either way. The Steelers are in purgatory right now. The Bengals get a tough road trip out of the way early against a team resetting with a new head coach.
Prediction: W (2-1)
This feels like a trap game, but not enough to call it a loss. There hasn’t been much of an actual quarterback debate between these two clubs for years now.
Prediction: W (3-1)
Talk about a friendly start to the season for the Bengals. They wrap up the pre-bye slate against what could be the worst team in the NFL just entering the first stages of a big rebuild.
Prediction: W (4-1)
Do we trust Zac Taylor out of a bye? Maybe not. The defense should be fully adjusted now, but they haven’t played anyone like Lamar Jackson up to this point.
Prediction: L (4-2)
Brian Callahan is already up out of there in Tennessee, giving the Bengals what should be a very winnable game against a rebuilder just before the big trip overseas.
Prediction: W (5-2)
An international game feels like a toss-up even moreso than those weird Thursday night games on short weeks.
Prediction: W (6-2)
The Bengals get a little extra rest after the overseas trip. By this point in the season, if this record holds, it’s safe to suggest the Steelers are pulling a Mike Tomlin-era thing and just hanging around .500. Maybe with some Rodgers drama distracting things, too.
Prediction: W (7-2)
Hello, trap game. A Monday night stage against a tricky Jayden Daniels-led offense on an odd cross-conference opponent could cause some problems.
Prediction: L (7-3)
The purgatory Saints are a trap because of their NFC ties too, as the Bengals just don’t see them that often. Still, Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler aren’t beating Burrow.
Prediction: W (8-3)
The Browns are a mess. The cold-weather slugfest on the road won’t make things easy, but it’s not exactly a far trip, either.
Prediction: W (9-3)
Let’s just presume Patrick Mahomes is back fully healthy at this point and call it a 50-50 game in a likely shootout.
Prediction: L (9-4)
Tired of hearing about trap games yet? The Panthers from the NFC showed some signs of life last year, clearly. A road trip makes it a tad trickier, too. And yet, the Burrow factor.
Prediction: W (10-4)
Burrow knows how to work around old friend Lou Anarumo’s defense. Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson, even, probably aren’t going to be able to keep up.
Prediction: W (11-4)
We have to presume Jackson is healthy, just like we do Burrow. This takes place in Cincinnati, but on a holiday and, even worse, a short week. A shootout is a 50-50.
Prediction: L (11-5)
Only one team will probably have something to play for in this game.
Prediction: W (12-5)
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals schedule game-by-game predictions for 2026 season
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In the aftermath of the NFL schedule release, the Bengals have some season-deciding games in key spots. And the bye week…not exactly friendly to the Bengals.
With the schedule now public, here’s a quick early rundown of how the Bengals could end up doing against the slate.
Week 1: Sept. 13 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 p.m. ET
Rueben Bain might’ve been the pick at No. 10. Instead, he gets a chance to sack Joe Burrow in his NFL debut. The good news? The Bengals have the best line of the Burrow era and these Bucs finished 3-8 down the stretch last year.
Prediction: W (1-0)
Week 2: Sept. 20 at Houston Texans 1 p.m. ET
The Bengals just…don’t do well against the Texans. Houston has won nine of the last 11. A still-gelling Bengals defense will have some problems.
Prediction: L (1-1)
Week 3: Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Steelers 1 p.m. ET
Aaron Rodgers? Probably not a big deal either way. The Steelers are in purgatory right now. The Bengals get a tough road trip out of the way early against a team resetting with a new head coach.
Prediction: W (2-1)
Week 4: Oct. 4 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 1 p.m. ET
This feels like a trap game, but not enough to call it a loss. There hasn’t been much of an actual quarterback debate between these two clubs for years now.
Prediction: W (3-1)
Week 5: Oct. 11 at Miami Dolphins 1 p.m. ET
Talk about a friendly start to the season for the Bengals. They wrap up the pre-bye slate against what could be the worst team in the NFL just entering the first stages of a big rebuild.
Prediction: W (4-1)
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Oct. 25 at Baltimore Ravens 1 p.m. ET
Do we trust Zac Taylor out of a bye? Maybe not. The defense should be fully adjusted now, but they haven’t played anyone like Lamar Jackson up to this point.
Prediction: L (4-2)
Week 8: Nov. 1 vs. Tennessee Titans 1 p.m. ET
Brian Callahan is already up out of there in Tennessee, giving the Bengals what should be a very winnable game against a rebuilder just before the big trip overseas.
Prediction: W (5-2)
Week 9: Nov. 8 at Atlanta Falcons (Madrid) 9:30 a.m. ET
An international game feels like a toss-up even moreso than those weird Thursday night games on short weeks.
Prediction: W (6-2)
Week 10: Nov. 15 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (SNF) 8:20 p.m. ET
The Bengals get a little extra rest after the overseas trip. By this point in the season, if this record holds, it’s safe to suggest the Steelers are pulling a Mike Tomlin-era thing and just hanging around .500. Maybe with some Rodgers drama distracting things, too.
Prediction: W (7-2)
Week 11: Nov. 23 at Washington Commanders (MNF) 8:15 p.m. ET
Hello, trap game. A Monday night stage against a tricky Jayden Daniels-led offense on an odd cross-conference opponent could cause some problems.
Prediction: L (7-3)
Week 12: Nov. 29 vs. New Orleans Saints 1 p.m. ET
The purgatory Saints are a trap because of their NFC ties too, as the Bengals just don’t see them that often. Still, Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler aren’t beating Burrow.
Prediction: W (8-3)
Week 13: Dec. 6 at Cleveland Browns 1 p.m. ET
The Browns are a mess. The cold-weather slugfest on the road won’t make things easy, but it’s not exactly a far trip, either.
Prediction: W (9-3)
Week 14: Dec. 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs 4:25 p.m. ET
Let’s just presume Patrick Mahomes is back fully healthy at this point and call it a 50-50 game in a likely shootout.
Prediction: L (9-4)
Week 15: Dec. 20 at Carolina Panthers 1 p.m. ET
Tired of hearing about trap games yet? The Panthers from the NFC showed some signs of life last year, clearly. A road trip makes it a tad trickier, too. And yet, the Burrow factor.
Prediction: W (10-4)
Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts TBD
Burrow knows how to work around old friend Lou Anarumo’s defense. Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson, even, probably aren’t going to be able to keep up.
Prediction: W (11-4)
Week 17: vs. Baltimore Ravens (TNF) 8:15 p.m. ET
We have to presume Jackson is healthy, just like we do Burrow. This takes place in Cincinnati, but on a holiday and, even worse, a short week. A shootout is a 50-50.
Prediction: L (11-5)
Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns TDB
Only one team will probably have something to play for in this game.
Prediction: W (12-5)
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals schedule game-by-game predictions for 2026 season
Continue reading...
