Cincinnati Bengals schedule: Games, dates, TV channels, predictions for 2026 season

The Cincinnati Bengals endured another tumultuous season in 2025 but the page is about to turn to 2026 with a fresh slate.

Joe Burrow is a perennial MVP candidate when healthy which has been the biggest hurdle for the team. The Bengals finished last season with a 6-11 record after Burrow played in just nine games. It marked the third consecutive year they missed the playoffs.

Burrow is surrounded by elite talent with wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but Cincinnati's defense has been a major issue. The stop unit allowed 28.9 points per game in 2025, ranking 31st in the league. In response to those struggles, Cincinnati focused on strengthening the unit in the draft and free agency.

The team signed defensive end Boye Mafe, safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Duggar and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. The biggest addition (literally) came when they traded the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the New York Giants for All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

The Bengals are the only team in the division that didn't make a head coaching change this offseason and are, seemingly, flying under the radar.

Can they bounce back in a wide-open AFC North? Here’s a look at the schedule for Burrow and the Bengals in 2026.

Cincinnati Bengals schedule 2026

This section will be updated when the NFL schedule is released on May 14 (all times Eastern):

• Week 1 (Sept. 13): vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET., Fox
• Week 2 (Sept. 20): at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET., CBS
• Week 3 (Sept. 27): at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET., CBS
• Week 4 (Oct. 4): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET., CBS
• Week 5 (Oct. 11): at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET., Fox
• Week 6: BYE
• Week 7 (Oct. 25): at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET., CBS            
• Week 8 (Nov. 1): vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET., CBS
• Week 9 (Nov. 8): at Atlanta Falcons, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network (Madrid)
• Week 10 (Nov. 15): vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC ("Sunday Night Football")
• Week 11 (Nov. 23): at Washington Commanders, 8:15 p.m., ESPN ("Monday Night Football")
• Week 12 (Nov. 29): vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET., CBS
• Week 13 (Dec. 6): at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET., CBS
• Week 14 (Dec. 13): vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET., Fox
• Week 15 (Dec. 20): at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET., Fox
• Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts
• Week 17 (Dec. 31): vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime (New Year's Eve, "Thursday Night Football")
• Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns

Bengals record prediction 2026

Record prediction: 10-7

The Bengals are sneaking up on some people in 2026 and should re-establish themselves as a formidable AFC contender if Joe Burrow can stay healthy. Cincinnati's defense allowed 28.9 points per game in 2025, ranking 31st in the league. The team retained defensive coordinator Al Golden but made significant changes to the personnel on that side of the ball this offseason.

The team signed defensive end Boye Mafe, safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Duggar and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. Their biggest addition came when they traded the tenth overall pick in April's draft to the New York Giants for All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

The Bengals run out one of the league's most elite duos at wide receiver every week with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Additionally, they re-signed tight end Mike Gesicki, giving Burrow plenty of receiving options. Running back Chase Brown is quietly becoming a dangerous weapon out of the backfield.

The Bengals have an easy path in 2026, ranking third-easiest strength-of-schedule league-wide, according to Sharp Football Analysis. Due to the Bengals' third-place finish in the division last season, they get a home matchup with the Chiefs, along with road matchups against the Dolphins and Commanders. Just five of their 17 games will be against 2025 playoff teams, two of which will be against the Steelers. Burrow will put up MVP numbers, and Cincinnati will take advantage of four matchups against a feeble NFC South and six games in the AFC North that appears to be undergoing a power shift.

Bengals 2026 home opponents

• Baltimore Ravens
• Cleveland Browns
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kansas City Chiefs
• New Orleans Saints
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tennessee Titans

Bengals 2026 away opponents

• Baltimore Ravens
• Cleveland Browns
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Atlanta Falcons
• Carolina Panthers
• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts
• Miami Dolphins
• Washington Commanders

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