Bengals Fans Receive More Good News During NFL Offseason

The excitement surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals has been building steadily since March and has yet to slow down. From impressive free agency moves to the blockbuster Dexter Lawrence trade and other important pieces arriving in the draft, every week has produced a new reason to believe this roster is fundamentally different from the one that went 6-11 last season. 

With the NFL set to release the full 2026 schedule this Thursday, May 14, at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network and ESPN2, Bengals fans will finally see exactly who this revamped roster is going up against. And the early projections on that front are just as encouraging as the roster news.

On Monday, the league released its official opponent-based strength of schedule rankings ahead of Thursday’s reveal, and Cincinnati landed with the third easiest slate in the entire league. The Cleveland Browns hold the easiest schedule in football, followed by the New Orleans Saints. 

The AFC North produced just one team with a winning record in 2025, meaning every team in the division benefits from a cluster of bottom-tier opponents across the schedule. The Baltimore Ravens rank ninth in schedule ease, while the Pittsburgh Steelers sit 14th

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Chicago Bears carry the toughest schedule in football as a result of playing in a division where all four teams finished above .500 last season. The Bears are set to face five other division winners, among them both Super Bowl 60 participants in the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.

As for the Bengals, they will host the Steelers, Browns, Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Kansas City Chiefs at Paycor Stadium. That home slate includes two AFC South opponents who finished well below .500 in 2025, an NFC South team that struggled for consistency, and a Chiefs team that finished 6-11. Only two of these teams made the playoffs last year, both exiting in the wild card round. 

The road schedule for Cincinnati includes trips to face the Miami Dolphins, the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders, plus a visit to each of its three divisional rivals.

A year ago, the Bengals faced the 20th hardest schedule and had to fight through this without a functional defense while Burrow was lost for nine games to injury. Now they enter the season with arguably the most improved roster in the AFC, a fully healthy quarterback, and a path that avoids the league’s elite competition for the bulk of the season.

NFL scheduling analyst Mike North has noted the Bengals can expect their share of prime-time games in 2026 and potentially one overseas appearance. 

The Bengals are a measurably better football team entering 2026, and the schedule gives them every opportunity to prove it early and often. Thursday night’s release will fill in the final details. The foundation, though, is already in place.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​