Cincinnati Bengals Set to Have Third Easiest NFL Strength of Schedule in 2026

The 2026 NFL season is right around the corner, and with the draft over, it’s fairly clear where every team stands going into training camp. The Cincinnati Bengals are wrapping up a successful offseason, one in which they desperately needed to improve after missing the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.  

After the season, general manager Duke Tobin addressed the fans and media who claimed he wasn’t in win-now mode with several moves the Bengals aren’t generally accustomed to doing. This involved early contract extensions, expensive free-agent signings, and even a draft-day trade that had never been done before in the franchise’s history. 

Their path to returning to the postseason seemed clear after 2025 ended: improve the defense and offensive line. The Bengals were able to achieve both of these tasks with the re-signing of Dalton Risner and extension of Orlando Brown Jr., along with the signings of Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, Jonathan Allen, and Kyle Dugger and trading for Dexter Lawrence. 

Now, looking forward to next season, the strength of schedule for each team has come out based on the projected win totals from Vegas betting odds, and Cincinnati appears to have a clear path back to Super Bowl contention. 

While preseason projected win totals are subjective, there may not be a better reference than Vegas itself. With this in mind, the Bengals are set to have the third-easiest strength of schedule in the NFL next season. Their division rivals rank as follows: the Cleveland Browns are fourth, the Baltimore Ravens are sixth, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are 18th. These rankings are significant because it shows how poorly the AFC North is perceived to perform in 2026. 

While their division may not compete with the best in the league, the Bengals’ conference is not one to be messed with. The typical Super Bowl contenders and best quarterback-led teams are set to return to form in the Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buffalo Bills. The young up-and-coming teams are ready to win now in the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans. Finally, the teams that always seem to find a way to stick around are projected to be right back in the mix in the Steelers and Indianapolis Colts. 

If they are healthy, the Bengals will have one of the best offenses in football next season. Superstar quarterback Joe Burrow has proven that he is capable of MVP-caliber play, and with the incredible weapons of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown, the scoring won’t be the problem for Cincinnati in 2026. If the new and improved defense can stand its ground, the Bengals should have no problem erasing their three-year playoff drought.