Last year, the Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff hopes were alive for longer than they should have been. Despite a historically bad defense and losing Joe Burrow for half the season, once QB1 returned, hope was still there. In Burrow’s first start on Thanksgiving, the Bengals took care of business and injected all kinds of hype into the year.
Then, Burrow threw back-to-back interceptions against the Buffalo Bills in an otherwise great game. Then, the Bengals had no answer for the Ravens. Over the final three weeks, Cincinnati was able to get the fifth and sixth wins against two bad teams. Finally, the Cleveland Browns hit a buzzer-beater field goal to officially end the Bengals’ season.
This offseason, it was well known what the team had to do. Save for the linebacker position, the Bengals did a fantastic job of rebuilding the defense. Now, the hype has returned to the banks of the Ohio River. Have the stars realigned for a Bengals return to the playoffs?
Bet on a Bengals Return to the Playoffs
Job Well Done
Last year, the Bengals had the worst rushing defense, second-worst total defense, third-worst scoring defense, and the seventh-worst passing defense. All of this despite being on the field for 61.6 plays per game (17th-most). The Bengals allowed a league-worst 6.2 yards per play.
Heading into the offseason, the team needed to upgrade the defense in any possible way.
As a result, Ja’Sir Taylor, Kyle Dugger, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Jonathan Allen were brought in as external free agents. Then, in the weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Bengals felt like they couldn’t get an elite impact player with the 10th overall pick, so they sent it to the New York Giants in exchange for the league’s best defensive tackle, Dexter Lawrence. Plus, the team will get a solid compensatory pick for losing Trey Hendrickson.
Even before the draft, the job was well done. The defensive line was improved, and the back end of the secondary should be much better. Then, the Bengals added Cashius Howell and Tacario Davis with their second and third-round picks, plus Landon Robinson in the seventh.
Obviously, there is a risk that all of these moves flop, and the issue is less with talent and more to do with coaching. Either way, the Bengals are betting on Al Golding and have given him as many pieces to succeed as possible.
Trust in Burrow
Now, ideally, the baton is passed to the offense to keep up its play.
Last year, the Bengals’ offense was able to score 24.4 points per game despite losing Burrow for eight-plus games and fielding the fourth-worst rushing offense. The offense scored more than 30 points eight times. Three of those games (four, if you count the game that knocked Burrow out) were with a backup quarterback. At the same time, three of the team’s many losses came despite scoring 34 or more points: 39-24 in Week 14 vs the Bills, 39-38 in Week 8 vs the New York Jets, and 47-42 in Week 9 to the Chicago Bears.
At the same time, the offense managed 20 or fewer points eight times, resulting in a 1-7 mark. Naturally, if you don’t score, it’s difficult to win.
While the Bengals’ offense has one of the highest ceilings in the NFL, it has fielded some duds. Remember, even though Burrow was playing, the Bengals lost to the Ravens 24-0 and the Browns 20-18.
The x-factors are going to have to be the offensive line – which was objectively the best in the Burrow era in 2026 – and the rushing attack.
Chase Brown put up his first career 1,000-yard season last year and averaged 4.4 yards per carry. He’s a solid back; there is no denying that. The issue is that the offense is predictable. When Burrow is under center, it’s a run. If it’s second and long, the Bengals are running. Brown is not set up for success.
If the Bengals can find a second gear on the ground – one that features more than three 100-yard games – this offense will open up.
An Easier Schedule
Remember in 2024 when the Bengals had a last-place schedule, but only managed to go 9-8? Yeah, that was as disappointing as last year’s 6-10 result. The most annoying part was the fact that the Bengals got an easy draw, 17 games with Burrow, but started 1-4 and needed a five-game win streak and then some to salvage the season.
This year, the Bengals get a third-place schedule, and it is considered the third-easiest in the NFL based on last year’s results. The 2026 schedule starts off fairly difficult, but overall, it’s incredibly favorable. Then, when you factor in the fact that the Bengals don’t have to deal with Myles Garrett twice per year, it gets even better. Jared Verse and those picks are likely going to be good, but they aren’t Myles Garrett.
Altogether, the Bengals currently have a 69.2% chance to make the playoffs according to ESPN, the third-best in the AFC (and fourth-best overall).
The stage is set. It’s on Golden and the defense to step up, plus the offense needs to continue to be what it can be.
Joe Burrow (157) is 48 touchdown passes away from breaking Andy Dalton’s (204) team record for most TD passes in Bengals history. Burrow is hoping to break that record THIS season. pic.twitter.com/WoCimfDZKq
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) May 20, 2026
Full 2026 Cincinnati Bengals Schedule
All kickoff times at 1:00 p.m. ET unless otherwise stated.
- Week 1: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 2: at Houston Texans
- Week 3: at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 4: vs Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 5: at Miami Dolphins
- Week 6: BYE
- Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens
- Week 8: vs Tennessee Titans
- Week 9: at Atlanta Falcons in Madrid (9:30 a.m.)
- Week 10: vs Pittsburgh Steelers (8:20 p.m.) (SNF)
- Week 11: at Washington Commanders (8:15 p.m.) (MNF)
- Week 12: vs New Orleans Saints
- Week 13: at Cleveland Browns
- Week 14: vs Kansas City Chiefs (4:25 p.m.)
- Week 15: at Carolina Panthers
- Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts (TBD)
- Week 17: vs Baltimore Ravens (8:15 p.m.) (TNF)
- Week 18: vs Cleveland Browns (TBD)
Main Image: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
