NFL schedule 2026: Instant predictions for every Bengals matchup

The official 2026 schedule for the Cincinnati Bengals has been released, and the excitement is palpable. Just as palpable, however, is the urgency behind the team this year.

After missing the postseason for three straight seasons following two AFC Championship Games (and an appearance in Super Bowl LVI), the team made some major offseason moves to balance out the roster.

It’s so obvious, but it bears repeating that the path to the playoffs for the Bengals is through the division. They can’t afford to go worse than 3-3 in the AFC North, with four or more wins likely needed to cement a playoff berth. The earlier-than-usual bye and rough midseason travel schedule are other factors to watch in Cincinnati’s season.

Have they done enough this offseason to make an immediate leap back to the league’s elite in 2026?

The Predictions

Week 1: Sunday, September 13—Buccaneers at Bengals, Paycor Stadium, 1 PM ET

Cincinnati’s starts to seasons under Zac Taylor haven’t been the best since 2019, posting just a 2-5 record out of the gates. Furthermore, Baker Mayfield has seen a lot of success against the Bengals, sporting a 6-2 record as a starter against Cincinnati.

Still, this one is a home opener, and the sense is the Bengals have regained a sense of purpose with a big offseason. The team is touting this one as an “Open in Orange” game once again, and while Week 1 contests are always weird and sloppy, Cincinnati should barely handle business here.

Buccaneers 20, Bengals 23 — Win, 1-0

Week 2: Sunday, September 20—Bengals at Texans, NRG Stadium, 1 PM ET

Cincinnati has had a not-so-great history against the Texans. Be it Andy Dalton’s postseason stumbles against Houston in 2011 and 2012, or their inability to get a much-needed 2024 win at home, the Bengals have trouble with this team.

DeMeco Ryans’ defense is downright tenacious, which will likely lead to a frustrating day for the usually potent Bengals offense. Questions remain about the long-term viability of C.J. Stroud, but I don’t have a great feeling about this one so early in the year.

Bengals 21, Texans 26 — Loss, 1-1

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Check out 2026 NFL season odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

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Week 3: Sunday, September 27—Bengals at Steelers, Acrisure Stadium, 1 PM ET

The Bengals have a road game for the second consecutive week, and it’s going to be very odd to not see Mike Tomlin on the Pittsburgh sideline. Aaron Rodgers returns with Michael Pittman Jr., pairing with DK Metcalf, but will he still be a dink-and-dunk passer like we saw last year?

Cincinnati feels the pressure early in the season to get a must-win divisional game and rises to the occasion—this time.

Bengals 30, Steelers 24 - Win, 2-1

Week 4: Sunday, October 4—Jaguars at Bengals, Paycor Stadium, 1 PM ET

If Mayfield has had the Bengals’ number, then the same could be said of Cincinnati about Trevor Lawrence. Cincinnati is 3-0 head-to-head against the former No. 1 overall pick, and, oddly enough, Jake Browning cemented two of those Bengals wins.

I expect more of the same here. This seems like a game wherein the defense begins to find its footing and frustrates Lawrence. While all of the games have been close in the Burrow/Browning-Lawrence era, this one may not be such a squeaker.

Jaguars 17, Bengals 31 — Win, 3-1

Week 5: Sunday, October 11—Bengals at Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, 1 PM ET

Miami is in full rebuild mode. The team moved on from Tua Tagovailoa and has placed its bet on Malik Willis for the foreseeable future.

Cincinnati has had some tough ones in South Beach, but the Bengals’ roster just seems stacked too much in their favor to suffer a loss—even if they play an imperfect game.

Bengals 34, Dolphins 14 - Win, 4-1

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Cincy Jungle

Week 6: Sunday, October 18—BYE

Record at Break: 4-1

Week 7: Sunday, October 25—Bengals at Ravens, M&T Bank Stadium, 1 PM ET

Cincinnati needs to at least split the series against Baltimore this season. While the Steelers will linger around until the end of the year as they always do, and the Browns will be pesky, the AFC North will come down to the Bengals and the Ravens.

Trey Hendrickson will be fired up to go against his old team in front of his new home crowd and will likely have a big game. If the Bengals want to even the series, it will have to wait until the end of the season.

Bengals 26, Ravens 28 - Loss, 4-2

Week 8: Sunday, November 1—Titans at Bengals, Paycor Stadium, 1 PM ET

Like the Dolphins, the Titans are trying to establish themselves with a new coach and a second-year quarterback. Cam Ward should show improvement in 2026, but Cincinnati should bounce back at home after a tough road loss to Baltimore.

Titans 23, Bengals 34 - Win, 5-2

Week 9: Sunday, November 8—Bengals at Falcons (Madrid, Spain), 9:30 AM ET

Get to bed early on Saturday night and heat up multiple pots of coffee for this one. Atlanta is tentatively committed to Michael Penix Jr., but the team brought in a clone of him in Tagovailoa in case familiar injuries and/or ineffectiveness occur.

There isn’t much of a barometer for the Bengals’ performance abroad, but it will test mental fortitude. This one is a coin flip game for me, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Bengals falter. Regardless, it will be exciting to see how Madrid responds to both of these teams as hosts.

Bengals 20, Falcons 22 - Loss, 5-3

Week 10: Sunday, November 15—Steelers at Bengals, Paycor Stadium, 8:20 PM ET (Sunday Night Football)

Hangover, hangover, hangover. This one just reeks of a revenge game by Pittsburgh, which is why the aforementioned international coin flip game sneakily needs to go in Cincinnati’s favor.

Whether it was around the holiday season of 2023 under Browning, or last year’s drubbing with Joe Flacco in the 2025 matchup, Pittsburgh just finds a way to even the series. I see that happening after lengthy travel and potential jet lag.

Bengals 17, Steelers 27 - Loss, 5-4

Week 11: Sunday, November 23—Bengals at Commanders, Northwest Stadium, 8:15 PM ET (Monday Night Football)

The Bengals return to the field of nightmares, be it Joe Burrow’s rookie season knee injury, or fans nearly falling on Commanders players. The last time these two teams faced off, Burrow and Jayden Daniels lit up Monday Night Football, with Cincinnati just falling short.

I can see Washington coming through here, but deep down, I see Cincinnati ending its midseason skid in primetime.

Bengals 41, Commanders 35 - Win, 6-4

Week 12: Sunday, November 29—Saints at Bengals, Paycor Stadium, 1 PM ET

This one may be over by halftime. Tyler Shough provided optimism, but this New Orleans team is still short on overall roster talent.

Cincinnati cruises comfortably after finally playing at home for the first time in nearly a month, with Burrow and Co.’s patented late-season surge dominating headlines.

Saints 17, Bengals 38 - Win, 7-4

Week 13: Sunday, December 6—Bengals at Browns, Huntington Bank Field, 1 PM ET

The biggest headline for the Browns at this point in the year will be at the quarterback position. Who will be under center in Cleveland? Has Shedeur Sanders taken the next step?

Cincinnati CANNOT afford to drop this one. Myles Garrett will be his monstrous self, but the Bengals start their quest to complete the season sweep in ugly fashion.

Bengals 18, Browns 13 - Win, 8-4

Week 14: Sunday, December 13—Chiefs at Bengals, Paycor Stadium, 4:25 PM ET

Whew. This one will not only be for leftover bragging rights from a few years back, but also for potential playoff seeding jockeying.

Cincinnati hasn’t had many home opportunities against Kansas City in the Burrow-Mahomes rivalry, but the last time they faced off at Paycor, the Bengals pulled off a thriller. Will it repeat?

Chiefs 27, Bengals 28 - Win, 9-4

Week 15: Sunday, December 20—Bengals at Panthers, Bank of America Stadium, 1 PM ET

Carolina had a nice season last year, and many were pleased with the improvements seen from Bryce Young. It’s going to be interesting to see if the Panthers can keep up the momentum and be a perennial playoff-pusher or not.

This one may be a more slick game for the Bengals than many in Who Dey Nation would care to admit. I can see this one being overlooked by the national media, but being a really fun watch.

Bengals 34, Panthers 31 - Win, 10-4

Week 16: TBD—Bengals at Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium, TBD

Ol’ Lou Anarumo gets his revenge here. The Bengals’ former defensive coordinator knows how to play chess against Burrow, which should provide issues.

It’s a winnable game for Cincinnati and not much of a “road” travel, but Anarumo supplies just enough issues for the Bengals’ offense.

Bengals 22, Colts 24 - Loss, 10-5

Week 17: Thursday, December 31—Ravens at Bengals, Paycor Stadium, 8:15 PM ET

This one’s for the division. Both the Ravens and the Bengals should be in the playoff hunt at this point in the season, but the AFC North crown could be in the sights for both teams here.

It’s a short week, and, for once, the Bengals aren’t on the short end of the stick in that regard. That very well may be the finite facet to give Cincinnati the slight edge in what should be a VERY important game in many regards.

Ravens 38, Bengals 42 - Win, 11-5

Week 18: TBD—Browns at Bengals, Paycor Stadium, TBD

This one is so hard to predict if the record and schedule fall as previously predicted. Will the Bengals be atop the division and rest starters? Might they have a seed in sight to earn home-field postseason games?

To make sure things are interesting in this game, and it isn’t a total snoozer with a slew of backups, we’ll go with the latter sentiment.

Browns 21, Bengals 27 - Win, 12-5

Outlook

If the team gets to 11 or 12 wins as predicted, the Bengals will be back in the postseason and will likely have at least one home game in the process. The estimated late-season surge will give Cincinnati both momentum and confidence throughout January in its march to the Super Bowl once again.

As we know, this will all come down to Burrow’s health and how many games he plays in 2026. After suffering some of the most severe and rare injuries ever for an NFL quarterback, No. 9 is reportedly dealing with a neck disc issue.

The other facet to this year is the handful of games that could go either way when looking at them now in the late spring. The contests against Atlanta, Kansas City, Carolina, and any in the division could turn a season projected at 11-12 wins into a record hovering around .500.

How do you see the season playing out? Let us know in the comments section!

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