In the Zac Taylor era, the Cincinnati Bengals have been second-half teams. Far too often, they’ve stumbled out of the gate and had to play catch up. The 2024 Bengals schedule is favorable and is certainly conducive to a playoff run. The first nine weeks of the season had a number of tough matchups. However, the second half provides the opportunity to go on a run and generate serious momentum.
According to the first half of the year analysis, the Bengals enter the second half of the year at 6-3.
Predicting the Final Eight Weeks of the 2024 Cincinnati Bengals Schedule
Week 10: at Baltimore Ravens (TNF)
The third primetime game on the Bengals schedule happens to be on the road on a short week with the Baltimore Ravens. Ideally, the Bengals’ primetime games would be at home against the AFC North, but it’s become commonplace to have them travel.
These two teams face off in Week 4 of the year in Cincinnati. In that one, the Bengals get the win. Burrow is 1-3 in Baltimore and the most recent matchup resulted in yet another season-ending injury. That one win was a commanding one in 2021, but thus far, it’s looked like an outlier. Cincinnati absolutely can get the win here, but sweeping the Ravens is an incredibly tall task.
Bengals fall. (6-4)
Week 11: Los Angeles Chargers
Burrow and Justin Herbert will forever be compared because they are 2020 NFL Draftmates. The difference to this point, other than Burrow’s playoff experience and success, is now the fact that Burrow is still with Taylor whereas Herbert is on his second head coach.
This is going to be a very different Los Angeles Chargers team. They don’t have some of the big-name offensive pieces they’ve had and Jim Harbaugh‘s coaching style is going to be night and day compared to Brandon Staley. Defensively, Cincinnati will have to deal with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack up front with Derwin James and Asante Samuel, Jr. in the secondary.
The last time these two teams faced off resulted in a 41-22 Bengals loss. They dug themselves into a 24-0 hole and could not overcome. This time around, Cincinnati should be able to get to the bye on a high note to prep for the next AFC North matchup.
Bengals win! (7-4)
Week 12: Bye
A Week 12 bye is later than most but with three divisional matchups in six weeks, it’ll be welcomed. Plus, they’ll have three games in 10 days with two primetime matchups.
Week 13: vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Just like last year, the two matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers will take place in the latter half of the season. Coming off the bye, this will be a prime example to make sure the team is ready to go as the weather begins to turn.
The Steelers kept going with their voodoo and finished with yet another winning record and even made the playoffs last year. It was mostly thanks to a stout defense and will likely have to lean on T.J. Watt and company yet again. Russell Wilson should be an upgrade over Kenny Pickett but he hasn’t shown that he’s the same quarterback as he was in Seattle.
No matchup with the Steelers will be easy. However, at home, betting against Burrow and the Bengals feels like a bad move.
Bengals win! (8-4)
Week 14: at Dallas Cowboys (MNF)
Primetime in Jerry’s World? Now that’s good TV.
The Bengals and Dallas Cowboys have not faced off often in history. This will be the 15th matchup between the two franchises and Cincinnati has historically struggled with only four wins. The Bengals haven’t beaten the Cowboys since 2004 and haven’t won in Dallas since 1988. That year rings a bell, wonder what happened with the Bengals in that season…
In the last matchup between these two, Cooper Rush rode a strong defense to a last-second win in 2022. Micah Parsons almost single-handedly won this game for Dallas, so the improved offensive line will have to step up.
This is going to be a great game. Dallas has plenty of playmakers but continually falters against the top teams. It’s going to be a crucial year for Dak Prescott and his future. However, Burrow shines under the lights again.
Bengals win! (9-4)
Week 15: at Tennessee Titans
It took talent to finish at the bottom of the AFC South last year but the Tennessee Titans did it. They made a few major changes, most notably hiring the Bengals’ offensive coordinator, Brian Callahan as head coach.
Tennessee will be rolling without Derrick Henry for the first time in a while as the offense attempts to modernize. Plus, former Bengal Tyler Boyd was a post-draft signing. Perhaps the thing to watch in this one will be how the Bengals’ defensive line matches up with the Titans’ offensive line.
The old AFC Central rivalry has rekindled during the Burrow era as the two teams have faced off three times over the last two years. One of those was a win in the playoffs to send the Bengals to the AFC Championship. Another was a beatdown Titans win last year. Overall, this will be tough but Cincinnati should be able to get the job done.
Bengals win! (10-4)
Week 16: vs Cleveland Browns (TNF)
Six teams are set to play multiple Thursday Night Football games and these two teams are among them. Is it necessary? Does it make the NFL money? It the answer to either one of those questions is yes, that’s why!
Facing off against the Browns is difficult no matter where or when. Divisional matchups are always tough and adding the short week isn’t going to help. The Bengals are projected by us to drop the game in Cleveland earlier in the year. In order to avoid being swept for the fourth time since the Bengals swept the Cleveland Browns in 2017, Cincinnati must defend Paycor under the lights.
They do so and get even closer to the division crown.
Bengals win! (11-4)
Week 17: vs Denver Broncos
As the season winds down, the Bengals get to face off against one of the lower-tier teams from last year, the Denver Broncos. They’ll be breaking in a rookie quarterback but with Sean Payton, Denver is likely to be a bit better than they were.
Bo Nix is not your average rookie. In fact, he’s probably older than a good handful of the Bengals’ roster. Even then, he was a Heisman Trophy finalist for a reason and his favorite receiver followed him to Denver in Troy Franklin. Plus, old friend Samaje Perine is with the Broncos.
On paper, the Bengals should be able to win this one. As long as Ja’Marr Chase can have a better day than he did last time he lined up against Patrick Surtain II (one catch, three yards in 2021), Cincinnati should be fine.
Bengals win! (12-4)
Week 18: at Pittsburgh Steelers
This matchup is a toss-up, honestly. There are four ways this could go. 1) Bengals win because they are better, 2) Bengals win to win the division, 3) Bengals lose because they have only swept the Steelers once since 2009, 4) Bengals rest starters.
Pittsburgh is seemingly always in contention in one way or another. Even if the Bengals have a playoff spot locked up, if they have the opportunity to win the division and/or lock up the one seed, they’ll go for it. Taylor has said that when it comes down to it, having home-field in the playoffs, plus that extra bye, does wonders. Plus, are the Bengals really going to lie down and let the Steelers have a free win, potentially setting them up to make the playoffs? All in all, probably not.
Bengals win! (13-4)
Who Dey Think This Isn’t Realistic?
13-4 would end up as the greatest single season in Bengals history. The franchise has never won 13 regular season games. They’ve won 12 four times and made the Super Bowl in two of those years. In all reality, projecting wins and losses in May is a near crapshoot as we don’t know how the season will develop.
But, that’s why the NFL is king. Despite being well into the offseason, we all clamor at each and every crumb of information from the NFL and hyping up the schedule release is just the latest. The Cincinnati Bengals are well-equipped to get through the season and make a run in the playoffs. They’ll need to improve defensively and make sure Burrow stays upright. 2024 could be a big year for the Bengals. Only time will tell.
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