{"id":283336,"date":"2026-05-15T20:43:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T00:43:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=283336"},"modified":"2026-05-15T20:43:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T00:43:25","slug":"2026-bengals-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/05\/15\/2026-bengals-schedule\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2026 Bengals Schedule Opens With Toughest Stretch of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perhaps you’ve heard, but the 2026 Cincinnati Bengals schedule<\/a> has dropped. And it’s a good one.<\/p>\n

In 2025, the Bengals had an easier schedule, but injuries and a historic defense doomed the team to a 6-11 record, good for third in the AFC North. This year, the Bengals have the third-easiest schedule in terms of 2025 winning percentage. There are some stretches in which the Bengals should be expected to stack up some wins.<\/p>\n

However, this year, the strength of the schedule coincides with the well-documented weakness of the Zac Taylor era.<\/p>\n

The 2026 Bengals Schedule Opens Up Tough<\/h2>\n

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According to the way-too-early win total projections, the Bengals face six teams (eight games) that are projected to win eight games. Which, in reality, is not the highest bar considering that eight wins is still a losing record, but still, compared to the other nine matchups, it’s significantly better. When you raise the bar to at least nine games, it’s four opponents in five games.<\/p>\n

Of those eight games against better-than-eight-win teams, four take up the first four weeks. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8.5), Houston Texans (9.6), Pittsburgh Steelers (8.4), and Jacksonville Jaguars (9.5) are a formidable lineup. It’s not quite to the level of New England-Baltimore-Buffalo-Baltimore the Bengals had last year, but still.<\/p>\n

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thoughts on Bengals 2026 schedule? pic.twitter.com\/rNfHnOiqZA<\/a><\/p>\n

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n