The Cincinnati Bengals will open the 2024 NFL season at home for the first time since 2021. Their opponent will be the New England Patriots and all eyes will be on Joe Burrow as he will be fully cleared from the torn ligament in his throwing wrist. The Pats will have Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye behind center and rookie head coach Jarod Mayo will make his NFL debut. Let’s look at the three most exciting games for the orange and black this season.
The Most Exciting Games on the Cincinnati Bengals Schedule
Week 2 | Sept. 15 | Bengals @ Chiefs – 4:25 p.m. ET
One of the best rivalries in the NFL returns early in Week 2 as the Bengals travel to Arrowhead to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Burrow holds a 3-1 advantage in the head-to-head record and has played some of his best football against the future hall-of-famer. The Bengals have been one of the only teams in the league to slow Mahomes down as defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo always has a fantastic game plan ready for Kansas City. Burrow will be tested early and often in dealing with the vaunted Chiefs pass rush led by Chris Jones. The Bengals have traditionally started slow under Burrow since he arrived and the schedule forces their hand in making sure they are playing good football early in the season.
Week 18 | Jan. 4-5 | Bengals @ Steelers – TBD ET
The season finale for both teams might be for the division crown when the Bengals travel to Acrisure Stadium to face the Steelers. Burrow has had some success when healthy against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will have to ensure they keep T.J. Watt from wrecking the game as he tends to do. It will be interesting to watch the Steelers quarterback situation play out as the season progresses. They seem to be all systems go with Russell Wilson at the helm but could Justin Fields push the nine-time Pro Bowler? If Wilson is still starting, this is a good sign that the Steelers are having a successful season and will be in the mix for not only a playoff birth but possibly more.
Week 10 | Nov. 7 | Bengals @ Ravens – 8:15 p.m. ET | Thursday Night Football
Almost a year to the day since Burrow suffered the season-ending wrist injury at the same place and time in M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Night games against the Ravens with the blackout are always difficult and this game should be no different for the Bengals. Burrow will have revenge on his mind and look to put last year’s demons behind him for this matchup against new defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Although both squads will look markedly different from 2023, they will hopefully be at full strength in what is likely to be a pivotal game in the AFC North race. Cincinnati will want to focus on the running game early to take pressure off Burrow and get in a rhythm offensively to tame the crowd. If they are balanced in their run/pass splits the Bengals have an excellent shot of winning.
Main Photo: Sam Greene-USA TODAY NETWORK
