Perhaps you’ve heard, but the 2026 Cincinnati Bengals schedule has dropped. And it’s a good one.
In 2025, the Bengals had an easier schedule, but injuries and a historic defense doomed the team to a 6-11 record, good for third in the AFC North. This year, the Bengals have the third-easiest schedule in terms of 2025 winning percentage. There are some stretches in which the Bengals should be expected to stack up some wins.
However, this year, the strength of the schedule coincides with the well-documented weakness of the Zac Taylor era.
The 2026 Bengals Schedule Opens Up Tough
According to the way-too-early win total projections, the Bengals face six teams (eight games) that are projected to win eight games. Which, in reality, is not the highest bar considering that eight wins is still a losing record, but still, compared to the other nine matchups, it’s significantly better. When you raise the bar to at least nine games, it’s four opponents in five games.
Of those eight games against better-than-eight-win teams, four take up the first four weeks. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8.5), Houston Texans (9.6), Pittsburgh Steelers (8.4), and Jacksonville Jaguars (9.5) are a formidable lineup. It’s not quite to the level of New England-Baltimore-Buffalo-Baltimore the Bengals had last year, but still.
thoughts on Bengals 2026 schedule? pic.twitter.com/rNfHnOiqZA
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 14, 2026
The Buccaneers are a sneaky difficult Week 1 opponent. In terms of all-time matchups, the Bengals have a 6-7 mark against the Bucs, but they have won each of the last three meetings. However, Tampa Bay won six in a row between 1998 and 2010. Of course, Baker Mayfield has played the Bengals eight times…and won six times.
Playing at the Texans will be another tough test. As it stands, based on point spreads, the Bengals are favored in 15 games, and the Week 2 trip is one of those in which they are underdogs. All-time, the Texans own a 9-5 advantage, including two playoff wins. Since the 2015 matchup, the Bengals have dropped four of five, winning just the 2020 edition. Joe Burrow will have to be on his best behavior against that ridiculous Houston defense, led by Will Anderson, who finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Then, there is a trip to the Steelers. AFC North matchups are always tough, but facing the Steelers is just on another level. All-time, the Steelers own a 72-41 advantage over the Bengals, including two postseason wins. In the Burrow era, the Bengals are 6-5, splitting each of the last two years. That Pittsburgh defense will be a strength again, but will it be Aaron Rodgers at quarterback again? Will the Steelers have another disappointing season?
Finally, the Jaguars come to town. In 26 meetings, each team has won 13. However, the Bengals have won each of the last four and have won eight of the last 10. Last year, Burrow was lost to that freak injury against the Jaguars, but Jake Browning was able to secure the win off the bench.
After that meeting, the schedule lightens up a bit. Sure, another matchup against the Steelers won’t be easy, plus two against the Ravens and one against the Chiefs. However, two against the Browns, once against the Dolphins, plus the rest of the AFC South and NFC South, should be winnable. The question will be how good the Commanders will be on Monday Night Football in Week 11.
All in all, this year’s schedule sets the Bengals up nicely.
Full 2026 Cincinnati Bengals Season
All kickoff times at 1:00 p.m. ET unless otherwise stated.
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