Cincinnati Bengals 2015 Schedule: Win-Loss Predictions for Every Game
Like the rest of the league, the Cincinnati Bengals learned their 2015 fate during Tuesday's schedule release event.
In short, it isn't pretty.
Head coach Marvin Lewis and the front office knew this going into the affair, though, as NFL on ESPN illustrates:
"Teams with the toughest strength of schedules in 2015: @steelers - .578 @Bengals - .563 @49ers - .561 @Seahawks - .559 @AZCardinals - .557
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 21, 2015"
Things are so tough, in fact, that the team needed to petition the league to play consecutive games on the West Coast, per ESPN.com's Coley Harvey, thanks to away games in Oakland, San Francisco and Denver.
Four prime-time games await the Bengals in 2015, as does a downright brutal end-of-season stretch. The only positive? A Week 7 bye almost right in the middle of the schedule.
While the NFL draft is still on approach, it's important to take a look at the full slate and nail down early predictions for each contest.
Week 1: Cincinnati Bengals 28, Oakland Raiders 14
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The Cincinnati Bengals start the quest for another postseason berth far away from home against the Oakland Raiders.
First, the bad news—Oakland is on the upswing, especially with the arrival of Michael Crabtree on offense and Dan Williams on defense. Don't forget a top-five draft pick, either.
Now the good news—the Bengals won't have an issue starting the season on the West Coast. Those new pieces take time to click, too. Oakland won't come firing out of the gates and pour a ton of points on a fresh, healthy Bengals defense.
Oakland is going to be much better in 2015, but not good enough against a ball-control offense with two effective backs and an elite wideout.
Week 2: Cincinnati Bengals 27, San Diego Chargers 17
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It's impossible to know what the San Diego Chargers will look like by the time Week 2 rolls around.
The team is one of a few perhaps of the mind to trade up and grab one of Oregon's Marcus Mariota or Florida State's Jameis Winston. Bleacher Report's Jason Cole hears the team may attempt to dangle quarterback Philip Rivers in trade talks.
Alas, either way, things appear to favor the Bengals.
If it's a rookie quarterback, it's an easy win in the jungle. If not, the fact that Rivers and Co. still need to travel across time zones to encounter what should be an elite defense and a ball-control offense means the Bengals will pick up a comfortable win, especially after a bit of a warm-up against the Oakland Raiders to start the season.
Week 3: Baltimore Ravens 20, Cincinnati Bengals 13
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The Cincinnati Bengals managed a sweep of the Baltimore Ravens last year, the trip to M&T Bank Stadium a 23-16 escape to start the season.
Miscommunications on the road were a big part of the Bengals surrendering big plays to allow the Ravens back in it. An 80-yard touchdown to Steve Smith comes to mind. The always-underrated Justin Forsett is still around, too, and at home last year, he ran 11 times for 70 yards and a score.
In a hostile environment with Forsett's legs fresh, the Bengals will find it tough to squeak out another road victory this time.
Look for Joe Flacco to hit on a few big plays from the comfort of a quiet stadium to make all the difference.
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Week 4: Cincinnati Bengals 23, Kansas City Chiefs 20
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On one hand, a home encounter with the Kansas City Chiefs looks great for the Cincinnati Bengals.
It's tough for any team to pick up its boots and march west, so the fact the Bengals get to welcome Andy Reid's offense to town figures to put them at an advantage.
Then again, the Chiefs tout one of the league's best pass rushes and running backs (Jamaal Charles) and have a shiny new weapon to unleash by the name of Jeremy Maclin.
So early in the season, though, this has the feel of one of those contests where if defensive coordinator Paul Guenther's unit can limit the big play, the team can ride momentum provided by the home crowd to a victory.
Week 5: Seattle Seahawks 24, Cincinnati Bengals 23
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Believe it or not, the Seattle Seahawks looked human on the road last year, posting losses in San Diego, St. Louis and Kansas City.
Right now, at least on paper, Russell Wilson and Co. look better than last year, though, with the big addition so far being tight end Jimmy Graham.
But a hike to Cincinnati is no easy task, and Cincinnati's backs will still be on fresh legs to match Marshawn Lynch blow for blow.
Were this in Seattle, it would be a much different story (unless Tarvaris Jackson was under center). It's in Cincinnati, so it figures to be much closer than most would expect. Even then, Wilson and the Seahawks tout a big-game experience capable of helping them escape in the waning moments.
Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals 27, Buffalo Bills 20
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A trip to Buffalo for an encounter with the Bills will cause a sense of desperation for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Given this current trajectory, the Bengals ride to Ralph Wilson Stadium with just three wins. Thanks to the back-loaded nature of Cincinnati's schedule this year, the team figures to need four by the bye to have a serious shot at the playoffs.
Buffalo's no joke under the newfound guidance of coach Rex Ryan and also touts LeSean McCoy in the backfield and Percy Harvin across from Sammy Watkins. The issue, which Cincinnati can capitalize on, is a weak offensive line and Matt Cassel under center.
So long as the Bengals stand tall against the run and Andy Dalton avoids mistakes under consistent pressure, the Bengals can get the fourth win.
Week 8: Cincinnati Bengals 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 13
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The Cincinnati Bengals suffered a sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers last year.
There was a small, small glimmer of hope the Bengals could avoid Le'Veon Bell once thanks to his three-game suspension, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, but a back-loaded schedule makes it impossible.
The Bengals can be an erratic team out of the bye, a habit under Marvin Lewis made better against a team they are so familiar with.
A week off to get healthy and extra time to game-plan means the Bengals can key on Pittsburgh's major playmakers and give the ball to fresh legs in the backfield enough to secure the win.
Week 9: Cleveland Browns 14, Cincinnati Bengals 7
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It's easy to dismiss the Cleveland Browns on first pass.
Then again, the globe seemed to do so a year ago when they visited Paul Brown Stadium in Week 10. The result for the Cincinnati Bengals on the Thursday Night Football affair was a 24-3 embarrassment.
This time, the Browns figure to be even better. Dwayne Bowe might not be a scary name anymore, but he'll help get the most out of Josh McCown or whoever lines up under center for Cleveland. The addition of Tramon Williams on defense makes the unit even better.
This one also goes down on Thursday Night Football just a few days after a serious clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Look for the Bengals to suffer a prime-time letdown.
Week 10: Houston Texans 24, Cincinnati Bengals 10
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The Cincinnati Bengals know a thing or two about the Houston Texans.
Ditto for new Houston quarterback Brian Hoyer.
They also know about prime-time struggles.
Cincinnati took care of business against the Texans last year in Houston, although it should be noted Arian Foster didn't play, and Ryan Mallett was the starter under center.
Houston isn't going to make a lot of big plays through the air on the road, especially with Andre Johnson gone. On the flip side, Vince Wilfork and J.J. Watt form a scary tandem, but Cincinnati's quick-hitting pass attacks can neutralize them if deployed in a smart manner.
The problem is prime time. It's hard to think the Bengals put up enough points at home on a big stage in the face of such a monster rush.
Week 11: Cincinnati Bengals 13, Arizona Cardinals 10
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At least in a way, things get back to normal for the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11 with a road trip to Arizona.
There, old friend Carson Palmer awaits.
Barring a massive change in personnel, though, the Bengals don't figure to have many problems with the backs on Arizona's roster, and applying consistent pressure can force Palmer into familiar mistakes.
So long as Jeremy Hill can keep the chain gang busy in what appears to be a defensive showdown, the Bengals can correct course before things get tricky again.
Week 12: Cincinnati Bengals 27, St. Louis Rams 14
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This classifies as a trap game.
The St. Louis Rams continue to feel like a team right on the cusp if it could avoid the injury bug and somehow negotiate a way out of the NFC West. Last year, the team fielded a scary defensive line and picked up wins against Seattle, San Francisco and Denver.
This year, the Rams feature Nick Foles under center, and the promising Tre Mason figures to see an even bigger workload. The same elite defensive front will be intact, too.
Still, a Week 12 encounter at home bodes well for the Bengals so long as they don't overlook the Rams for a brutal end-of-season stretch.
Week 13: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Cleveland Browns 10
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The Battle of Ohio saw both the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns notch blowout victories last season, the winner both times the visitor.
Expect more of the same between familiar foes.
While things look better than usual for Cleveland on paper, even before the draft, an encounter with the playoff-aspiring Bengals later in the season doesn't bode well for a rebuilding team with a lot of moving pieces.
Look for the Bengals to ride a strong ground game behind the likes of Jeremy Hill to silence a hostile crowd and ride out a victory.
Week 14: Pittsburgh Steelers 28, Cincinnati Bengals 24
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Late-season encounters with the Pittsburgh Steelers haven't been too kind for the Cincinnati Bengals as of late.
Whether it's injuries or just both teams knowing what the other wants to do, a split feels right in 2015.
Le'Veon Bell is bound for a big game more often than not, and by this stage in the season, the Steelers may be getting huge production out of a bloomer such as Markus Wheaton.
If the Bengals' wideout corps is healthy, this one will be close, but in what may have the feel of a prime-time game, Andy Dalton may struggle to make the necessary plays when it matters late.
Week 15: San Francisco 49ers 27, Cincnnati Bengals 10
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While the owners of one of the league's most tumultuous offseasons, the San Francisco 49ers are not a team to underestimate at home in 2015.
The offense on its own is nothing to sniff at, not with Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith out wide and the tandem of Reggie Bush and Carlos Hyde in the backfield. Don't forget explosive quarterback Colin Kaepernick, either.
Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com throws out another reason to approach this one with caution:
"bengals have never won in Oakland, haven't won in Frisco since 74 or Denver since 75
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) April 22, 2015"
The 49ers are a team capable of beating the Bengals at their own game. On the road, the Bengals won't be able to stop it from happening.
Feel free to add in the fact this is a prime-time encounter.
Week 16: Denver Broncos 33, Cincinnati Bengals 27
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Remember Geoff Hobson's note about the Cincinnati Bengals not winning in Denver since 1975?
Week 16 is not just a road game, it's also a second consecutive prime-time outing for the Bengals.
Yes, the Bengals shocked the globe in this scenario last year on Monday Night Football in Week 16 (not a coincidence, folks), but this time, Cincinnati must travel west and enter Peyton Manning's yard.
There, Manning will get a lead, and Andy Dalton won't be able to outgun the legend on his own turf.
Week 17: Cincinnati Bengals 24, Baltimore Ravens 21
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One year ago, the Cincinnati Bengals used a home encounter against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8 to turn around a putrid stretch and save a season.
This time, the Bengals will close the season hoping a visit from the Ravens is enough to sneak them into the postseason.
Last year, it took a quarterback sneak near the end of regulation to secure the victory. This time, further questions surround the Ravens with Torrey Smith wearing different colors and holes still present on the defensive side of things.
Cincinnati figures to field a stronger pass rush this time around, which can once again fluster Joe Flacco into mistakes. It will be a close one, as always, between the two, but the Bengals can use another late surge to send the Ravens away with a loss.
A playoff berth, though, may be in the hands of other teams.
Final record: 9-7.
Stats courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of April 22. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.
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