The Cincinnati Bengals schedule is finally here, giving everyone a chance to start getting a feel for the team’s outlook in 2021. Though opponents were already announced, it’s the order that plays the biggest factor. With 17 games ahead and plenty of tough matches on the board, it’s a good time to consider the elements. After all, it’s a pivotal season for Zac Taylor and the Bengals, who need to avoid another bottom-five finish.
[pickup_prop id=”7163″]
Cincinnati Bengals Schedule Breakdown
1. At Cleveland Browns (Week 18)
The league set up a quite the season finale on this Cincinnati Bengals schedule. Playing the second of two Battle of Ohio bouts with the Cleveland Browns, it could be a massive game. In their second match last year, Baker Mayfield stole a win from Joe Burrow with just 0:55 remaining. Now, Burrow gets the chance to close out the season and get revenge. More than that, it could be a huge game for playoff positioning depending on the rest of the Browns season.
2. Vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Week 17)
The Kansas City Chiefs are always a ferocious opponent, especially in the late stages of a season. Just two years removed from their Super Bowl victory and coming off back-to-back Super Bowl, they play great end-of-year football. Patrick Mahomes will give this defensive backfield a lot to handle, even with Jessie Bates III roaming at safety. This one seems like a shoot-out in the making, with Kansas City likely tuning up for the playoffs.
3. At Baltimore Ravens (Week 7)
No team gave the Bengals offense fits last season like the Baltimore Ravens. In their Week 5 match-up last year in Baltimore, the Ravens handed a 27-3 trouncing to Cincinnati. This will be a big game for the Bengals, who need to prove their growth on offense. Can the addition of Ja’Marr Chase break the impressive duo of Marlon Humphery and Marcus Peters? We’ll learn in Week 7 at M&T Bank Stadium.
4. vs. Green Bay Packers (Week 5)
This game could slide way down the difficulty board if it’s against Jordan Love and not Aaron Rodgers. For now, the Green Bay Packers present the Bengals with quite the early season opponent. Green Bay was on the doorstep of a Super Bowl berth last season before a narrow NFC Championship collapse. The Packers have a lot to prove in 2021 and the Bengals show up early on the menu.
5. Vs. San Francisco 49ers (Week 15)
When the league added the seventeenth game, the Bengals got a bad draw in the formula. Their additional game comes against the San Francisco 49ers, who are likely to be in much better health this season. While it’ll be Trey Lance’s rookie season, there’s a good chance he’ll have worked out the kinks by this point in the campaign. Further, San Francisco’s Nick Bosa will be back in action and leading an attack on Burrow. This is a tough one for Cincinnati.
6. At Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 3)
In a long-heated rivalry, it was the Cincinnati Bengals getting the last laugh over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2021, they’ll get an early chance to avenge their Monday Night Football loss in Week 15 to the Ryan Finley-led offense. Pittsburgh did lose a bunch of players in the off-season, but they still started 11-0 in 2020. This is a tricky one for the Bengals early in the season.
7. At Denver Broncos (Week 15)
The Denver Broncos might not have the highest profile, but they’re certainly a hard team to play. Their defense is quite robust under Vic Fangio, plus have some nice receivers and a great offensive line. In this late-season match-up in Denver, the Bengals will have to battle the elements in a seemingly tough draw. Still, there’s an argument that Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater will be the worst quarterback they play this season.
8. Vs. Baltimore Ravens (Week 16)
The second of two match-ups between the two seems a bit more palatable for Cincinnati. By this point in the season, both teams will have a feel for their push to the finish line. With this one at Paul Brown Stadium, look for the Bengals to fight tooth and nail to defend their home turf. After being embarrassed in the season closer by Baltimore last year, this gives Cincinnati a chance to make a late bang.
9. Vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Week 13)
A long-awaited match-up between Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert highlights this later-season match-up. The Los Angeles Chargers played in Cincinnati in Week 1 last year, but Tyrod Taylor was the opposing starter. The two teams are building around a pair of the most promising quarterback prospects in recent seasons. Many eyes will be on this battle between two rising superstars.
10. Vs. Cleveland Browns (Week 9)
Playing at home against Cleveland, the Bengals will be looking to set a strong tone for the second half of their season. In a game where the weather shouldn’t be as much of a factor, it’s a slight advantage for Cincinnati. It’ll be a huge test for their renovated offensive line, with Jadevon Clowney and Myles Garrett crashing towards Burrow. However, it gives the team a chance to make a mid-season statement against a Super Bowl contender.
11. Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 12)
This is the second of two match-ups with Pittsburgh and a home one at that, so it should benefit Cincinnati. Look for Joe Burrow to play this game quite motivated and looking to make a statement. It’s the first game after Cincinnati’s bye, so they’ll have to make a statement.
12. At Las Vegas Raiders (Week 10)
Heading to face the Las Vegas Raiders a week before their bye, it’s a good chance for the Bengals to get a nice road win. Jon Gruden has underperformed since joining the Raiders and their defense struggled last season. This could be a big week of production for Joe Burrow.
13. Vs. Minnesota Vikings (Week 1)
The Week 1 draw against the Minnesota Vikings is a favorable one for the Bengals. Sure, there’s going to be some hype around Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase battling against former college teammate Justin Jefferson. Regardless, Minnesota is coming off a rough campaign and has a murky future. Look for the Bengals to come out swinging in Joe Burrow’s big return.
[pickup_prop id=”7095″]
14. At New York Jets (Week 8)
A mid-season match-up against Zach Wilson is a fun chance for Joe Burrow to face another young quarterback. More importantly, they’ll face departed franchise stud, Carl Lawson. Still, the New York Jets are coming off of a poor 2020 campaign and in the midst of a rebuild.
15. Vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 4)
Trevor Lawrence vs. Joe Burrow; sound familiar? The two last battelled it out in early 2020, when Burrow and the LSU Tigers took home the 2019 College Football Championship. Now, the two back-to-back first-overall picks will battle it out in primetime. Further building the hype for this one? New Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer is the one who picked Dwayne Haskins over Joe Burrow at Ohio State. Burrow could be looking to double down on his championship win while shoving it to Meyer. This is a fun match on the Cincinnati Bengals schedule this season without a doubt, as their only schedule primetime game.
16. At Chicago Bears (Week 2)
The match-up against the Chicago Bears fell favorably for the Bengals. It seems likely that Andy Dalton will suit up against his former team, with Justin Fields still getting ready for action. Plus, it should still be a lovely weather weekend in Chicago. For Cincinnati Bengals schedule watchers looking to travel, this could be an ideal target.
17. At Detroit Lions (Week 6)
Not a whole lot of debate about the easiest game on the schedule. While they’ll have to travel to face the Detroit Lions, that’s a team in the throes of a major re-build. It’ll be interesting to see Ja’Marr Chase and Penei Sewell share the field. Given the contentious debate about the two in the 2021 NFL Draft for Cincinnati, it’ll be fun to see an early-season match-up. Still, Jared Goff and a lacking group of passing options could make this an easy one for Cincinnati.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
