The Bengals failed to qualify for the postseason for the third time in as many seasons. Still, head coach Zac Taylor remains in charge — although the whispers of his demise appear to be louder than they've ever been.
Perhaps that springs Cincinnati into action. The Bengals are five years removed from making the Super Bowl. They're four years removed from last earning a playoff berth, falling just short of the Chiefs in a classic AFC Championship. Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have continued to showcase their talents in recent seasons. That hasn't quite translated to team success, however, leading some to wonder if the Bengals will every be capable of reaching the heights they scaled in the early 2020s.
Perhaps 2026 can be a return to form for Cincinnati. If not, it's hard to imagine Taylor finishing out the season.
With that, here is a complete breakdown of the Bengals' 2026 schedule, including dates, start times and analysis for all 17 games.
Cincinnati Bengals schedule 2026
Home opponents: Chiefs, Jaguars, Titans, Saints, Buccaneers, Steelers, Ravens, Browns
Away opponents: Dolphins, Texans, Colts, Falcons, Panthers, Commanders, Steelers, Ravens, Browns
Every NFL team's 2026 opponents are predetermined. Cincinnati's full 2026 NFL schedule with dates, times and TV networks will be updated below when the NFL schedule is announced at 8 p.m. ET on Thusday, May 14.
Week Date Opponent Kickoff time (ET) TV channel
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Cincinnati Bengals strength of schedule
The Bengals had a more difficult schedule than most in 2025, with their opponents posting an overall win rate of .521, the 11th-best mark in the NFL.
They should find things a little easier in 2026. Cincinnati's 2026 opponents combined to post a record of 130-159 in 2025. That's a .450 win percentage, the third-lowest mark in the NFL.
With Taylor's seat already scorching, that will be music to his ears.
Toughest tests: While the Bengals will face an easier schedule than the vast majority of their counterparts, that doesn't mean they won't be tested. They should get some decent bump in the form of the Jaguars and Texans. The Ravens, Steelers and Buccaneers are hardly pushovers, either. And with rumors of Patrick Mahomes' return swirling around, the Chiefs can't be counted out yet, either -- even if their 2025 record would suggest otherwise.
Biggest breaks: The Browns are no layup for Cincinnati; they've beat them at least once in six of Taylor's seven seasons in charge. However, barring something unexpected, Cleveland looks likely to sit near the bottom of the basement in the AFC for the third time in four years. The Dolphins are likely to join them, with Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa's departures setting the stage for an underwhelming campaign in Vice City. The Titans added some talent during the offseason, but they still look quite some distance away from being competitive. The Bengals will hope to take advantage of their youth during the 2026 season.
Cincinnati Bengals record prediction
Over/under win total: 9.5
Bottom line: It's tough to predict quite what Bengals side will show up in 2026. Cincinnati added some young talent to its defense in the draft but lost Trey Hendrickson to free agency. The Bengals' defense still looks uninspiring, although Taylor and Co. will hope that the Al Golden-led unit could take a step forward during the former Notre Dame defensive coordinator's second year.
As for the attack, Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are the headliners. When Burrow played in 2025, Cincinnati was effective, posting a .625 win rate. He didn't play often, however, taking part in just eight games. Assuming Burrow is back to health, the Bengals could make some noise in the AFC North. But their viability as a contender looks capped, especially if that defense doesn't improve markedly.
Record prediction: 10-7