The 2026 NFL season is inching nearer and nearer, and this week, schedule details are starting to be confirmed. For Cincinnati Bengals fans, there was some concern that Cincinnati would have to go on the road to face the Baltimore Ravens, an AFC North rival, for a primetime game for the fifth consecutive season.
However, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on Thursday that the NFL heard their concerns and is flipping the script this season.
“Sources: The#Bengals will host the#Ravens on Thursday Night Football in Week 17 on New Year’s Eve. For four straight years, the Bengals have played the Ravens in Baltimore in primetime. This year, the flip is happening,” Schultz reported on X.
Sources: The #Bengals will host the #Ravens on Thursday Night Football in Week 17 on New Year’s Eve.
For four straight years, the Bengals have played the Ravens in Baltimore in primetime. This year, the flip is happening. 🐅😈 pic.twitter.com/C96oVIqU2L
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 14, 2026
As you can imagine, Bengals and Ravens fans had some interesting takes on the news on social media.
“At least we get the home field advantage on this ridiculous annual tradition this time,” one Bengals fan posted on X.
“Bungholes fans cried so much about coming to Baltimore that they finally get their wish. Now Lamar Jackson gets to celebrate new years in Lamar Jackson stadium, how nice,” a Ravens fan added.
“Four years of going to Baltimore for primetime and now we get them at Paycor?? The NFL heard us,” someone else added.
In another scheduling release, the Bengals have been confirmed to play in the franchise’s first international game in Madrid, Spain. Star quarterback Joe Burrow is happy for the opportunity to grow the game.
“The game has a lot of room to grow, just like basketball did in the ’80s and ’90s. The Bulls kind of spearheaded that. Made it global, and hopefully the Bengals can do the same thing over the next couple of years for the NFL.”
The Bengals will look to end their three-year playoff drought.