There are no excuses for Cincinnati to miss the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
With the 2025 NFL season officially over, all eyes point towards who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in 2026. After missing the playoffs for the last three consecutive seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals are expected to make a big push to get back to postseason football.
However, with the core of star skill position players Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown, Bengals general manager Duke Tobin should be focusing on getting back to Super Bowl contention, as they were in 2021. Given all of the different factors heading into 2026, there is no reason that winning at least one playoff game shouldn’t be expected.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase (1) and Tee Higgins (85) with former running back Joe Mixon (28) | © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Everything starts with free agency on March 11th, which is set to be an exciting time for Bengals fans. Cincinnati obtains the seventh-most cap space in the NFL this offseason, and it’s been reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that money is anticipated to be well spent on the defense (via X). With the combination of free agency and the draft, there is no reason for the Bengals to be making excuses for major holes in the roster construction, specifically in the defense and offensive line.
After the team has been officially assembled, it will be important for Cincinnati to develop team chemistry early to get off to a hot start, something it’s not accustomed to doing. Through four weeks in each of the last four seasons, the Bengals have failed to have a winning record, going 1-3 twice and 2-2 twice.
Competing against the toughest competition will not be an excuse for Cincinnati losing next season, as its strength of schedule (based on this season’s standings) ranks 30th in the NFL. While this is not a direct correlation to how well each team will play next season, the Bengals will face just three teams that made the playoffs this season, outside of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who won the AFC North. Taking it a step further, out of the three playoff teams (Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, and Houston Texans), there was only one team to reach the second round.
It’s worth noting that several of the non-playoff teams should have different seasons next year. Teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers expect to contend for their respective division titles, while teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts may tank after losing their star quarterbacks to major injuries. The other four playoff teams figure to maintain their highly touted aspirations, so the strength of schedule debate won’t mean much until after next season is over.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) and center Ted Karras (64) | © Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
One thing should be clear heading into 2026, though. If the Bengals' defense and offensive line are upgraded to the caliber of at least an average NFL team, the offense can and should carry Cincinnati to another Super Bowl run in the near future. Regardless of how well the Bengals’ opponents actually end up being, they determine their own destiny in 2026.