The 2024 Cincinnati Bengals schedule is here! Last year, the Bengals limped to the offseason after losing Joe Burrow to another season-ending injury. They finished last in the AFC North at 9-8, so they were gifted with one of the easier schedules in the league.
Overall, the schedule is quite favorable. The Bengals are looking at getting back to the playoffs after missing out last year and with Burrow, anything can happen. There are still things the team needs to work on in order to get back. With eight home games and nine away, the Bengals will have to make sure they take care of business. In total, before the potential flexing of late-season matchups, Cincinnati will be featured in five primetime matchups. Thankfully for them, only one of them is on the road at a divisional opponent…unlike last year.
Predicting the First Eight Weeks of the 2024 Cincinnati Bengals Schedule
Week 1: vs New England Patriots
To kick off the year, the Bengals get to play host to the New England Patriots in the first game of the post-Bill Belichick era. Jerod Mayo has the unenviable task of following one of, if not the greatest NFL coach of all time. The team is going to look different from the last time these two franchises faced off in 2022. Presumably, it’ll be the first game of the Drake Maye era with a revamped wide receiver room.
The Bengals struggled with the Patriots’ defense in that 22-18 win and it even took a miracle fumble from Rhamondre Stevenson to pull it out. This time, these two teams should be heading in opposite directions. New England does not match up well with the Bengals. Now, if the early-season woes continue, Cincinnati will drop this one, inexplicably. However, let’s roll with the odds in this one. The Bengals, on paper, are more talented.
Bengals win! (1-0)
Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs
Must-see TV in Week 2? At Burrowhead Arrowhead? Yes. Please.
Last year, we were robbed of Burrow vs. Mahomes round five due to his injury. Even then, Jake Browning played valiantly in a 25-17 loss. Cincinnati held a 17-7 lead midway through the second quarter but gave up 18 unanswered points from six field goals. However, in the four matchups prior, each was decided by three points. Cincinnati took rounds one, two, and three, two of which were in Kansas City. The Chiefs finally got theirs in the AFC Championship thanks to an uninspiring effort by the Bengals and a late-game penalty.
Now, the Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champs and are well-equipped to go for the three-peat. Any game with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback is winnable for the Chiefs and they still have, arguably, the greatest tight end to play the game, Travis Kelce. Then they went out and got another ridiculously fast receiver in Xavier Worthy since they will likely be without Rashee Rice for an extended period of time.
The Chiefs host the Ravens in Week 1. Then, they get the Bengals in Week 2. Cincinnati is infamous for its slow start during the Zac Taylor era. They can get by three of the first four opponents by sleepwalking. Kansas City is not one. Even on its best day, the Bengals will have their hands full.
Bengals fall. (1-1)
Week 3: vs Washington Commanders (MNF)
You want to face off against 1) a team off a loss, 2) a team on a long week, and 3) a team whose star quarterback’s knee was obliterated on your home field in the last matchup? Well, buckle up.
The last time the Bengals and Washington Commanders faced off, it was November 11, 2020. That was the day Cincinnati’s pathetic offensive line allowed its rookie star quarterback to have his knee get shredded. Now, in 2024, the Bengals have taken steps to improve their offensive line and while it’s better than it was in 2020 and 2021, it has room for improvement. Plus, Washington does not have Chase Young or Montez Sweat anymore.
The Commanders are kicking off the Dan Quinn era and still have a handful of questions. They’re likely on the upswing, but the Bengals match up well here. They get the job done at home in primetime. Cincinnati will need to make sure they keep Jayden Daniels contained.
Bengals win! (2-1)
Week 4: at Carolina Panthers
After trading up in the 2022 NFL Draft to get their quarterback, the Carolina Panthers ended up as the worst team in the NFL, earning the top overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft…which was traded away in 2022. Bryce Young showed some promise but the Panthers looked about as inept as could be last year. They did elect to trade for Diontae Johnson and draft the likes of Xavier Legette, Ja’Tavion Sanders, and Jonathan Brooks to shore up the skilled positions.
The last time these two teams matched up, the Bengals shellacked the Panthers, 42-21. Those 42 points are still the most since that game and the only 40-point game of the Bengals since they did so three times in 2021. It’s going to take quite an effort to go from a two-win season and firing its coach to beating a potential Super Bowl contender. Probably not going to get it done here as the Bengals get ready for their first AFC North showdown.
Bengals win! (3-1)
Week 5: vs Baltimore Ravens
If the Bengals are going to start slow, they’re going to need to figure it out by the time the Baltimore Ravens come to town. Plain and simple, if Lamar Jackson is healthy, the Ravens are going to win football games. Last year, he was healthy and Baltimore won 13 games and earned the top seed in the AFC. In 10 matchups, Jackson has an 8-2 record against the Bengals. He’s directly matched up with Burrow just four times, winning three. Given, neither of the two 2023 matchups had Burrow at 100% but that’s the NFL.
This is bound to be a battle of two of the top teams in the AFC. It’s very likely that there’s a massive red circle on this game. AFC North divisional games are wars. None of the six matchups will come easily, least of all against quite possibly the best roster in the division. However, in this predictive model, the Bengals have exorcized their early-season demons and are on the right track. This will be a close game and will very likely be decided by a late-game Evan McPherson field goal.
Bengals win! (4-1)
Week 6: at New York Giants (SNF)
The second Bengals primetime matchup of the year is a rare crossover with the New York Giants. These two franchises have only faced off 11 times in history and the Bengals own a narrow 6-5 lead. However, Cincinnati hasn’t beaten the Giants since 2012 and has never beaten the NFC team that resides in the Meadowlands.
If you pick games solely based on the quarterback matchup, this is a fairly easy Bengals win. Daniel Jones, despite his extension, was the center of a number of rumors regarding whether or not the team would move off of him for a rookie. In the end, the Giants punted on quarterback and took their own stud receiver out of LSU, Malik Nabers. The Bengals’ secondary will have its handful with Nabers…but someone has to throw that ball.
Facing off against that Giants defensive line will be problematic, however. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Jordan Phillips, Dexter Lawrence, and Brian Burns is not a unit to overlook. That defense got more athletic over the offseason. Going back-to-back-to-back-to-back with these defenses will likely be what shows where the Bengals’ offense resides. Regardless, Burrow still plays for the Bengals. And any game that Burrow plays in is winnable.
Bengals win! (5-1)
Week 7: at Cleveland Browns
If there’s a franchise that’s had Burrow and the Bengals’ number over the last four years, it’s the Cleveland Browns. Plain and simple, they’ve dogwalked the Bengals, pun intended.
Again, if you just look at the quarterbacks, the Bengals win. However, Deshaun Watson has a complete team around him that can carry him. Myles Garrett has frequent flier miles in the Bengals backfield. Denzel Ward has a standing invitation to the BBQ but he ignores it and uses it as motivation against Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals.
Last year, Cleveland made it to the playoffs thanks to the ghost of Joe Flacco and the 15 other quarterbacks they started. Nick Chubb is among the best running backs in the NFL and despite his injury, he will be dangerous. The Bengals are not going to sweep the AFC North and the first loss within the division will likely be at the hands of the Browns.
Bengals fall. (5-2)
Week 8: vs Philadelphia Eagles
This is quite the stretch of games. Baltimore is among the best AFC teams. The Giants have a potentially scary defensive line. The Browns have the Bengals’ number. And the Philadelphia Eagles are a Super Bowl contender.
If these two teams matched up in 2023 fully healthy, the Bengals might’ve run the Eagles off the field. Philadelphia had a legitimately pathetic secondary and Burrow would have had a record-setting day. Now, it could still happen in 2024, but it’ll have to come at the expense of the Eagles’ top two draft picks at corner. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean were projected to be two of the best corners in the draft and now they’re on the same team. Mitchell didn’t match up against top-tier receivers in college but he’s going to have to cover Chase in this one.
The Bengals’ interior offensive line is going to need to be on its best behavior in this one. The Eagles, and their pseudo-Georgia defense, have Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis on the interior defensive line and that’s a scary thought.
Realistically, the Bengals win this one. However, Jalen Hurts is going to have a bounce-back year with his two highly-paid receivers. This will be a tough battle, that’s for sure.
Bengals fall. (5-3)
Week 9: vs Las Vegas Raiders
The final matchup on the first half of the 2024 Cincinnati Bengals schedule is the Last Vegas Raiders. After that last four-game run, this could be a nice reprieve for the Bengals.
Outside of Davante Adams, there really is no proven commodity on the Raiders’ offense. Will Brock Bowers be the generational tight end? Perhaps! But Las Vegas’ quarterback room is loaded with backups and this franchise is playing to draft Shedeur Sanders or whichever top quarterback you like.
Again, the defensive line is going to be interesting. Maxx Crosby is one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL and the Raiders went out and signed Christian Wilkins in free agency. All in all, Cincinnati should be able to take care of business and cover whatever the spread ends up.
Bengals win! (6-3)
Week 10-18 will be what gives the Bengals the momentum for the playoffs. Part 2 is here.
Main Image: Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
