Bengals 2026 NFL Schedule Released for Burrow, Chase, Higgins' Playoff Push

The Cincinnati Bengals now know the path as they embark on what could be a pivotal season for the franchise.

Cincinnati is trying to end a three-year playoff drought, and that desperation was made clear when it traded the No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants for three-time Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence.

Failure to reach the postseason could prove costly as the future of franchise quarterback Joe Burrow became a bigger storyline as they Bengals sputtered to a 6-11 finish in 2025.

Schedule

Full schedule information available on the team's official website.

Analysis

One silver lining from a third-place finish is that Cincinnati gets a slightly easier schedule. Its 2026 opponents combined to have a .450 winning percentage, the third-lowest in the league.

The NFC South was the weakest division top to bottom as the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons all went 8-9. The Bengals should be able to pick up some wins there.

The Miami Dolphins are undergoing a complete rebuild, while the Tennessee Titans likely need another year before everything clicks for quarterback Cam Ward.

Cincy also has some opponents where that .450 winning percentage is deceiving. The Kansas City Chiefs will be much better than an 11-loss team. The same goes for the Washington Commanders, who suffered 12 defeats.

Based on how the last three years have gone, you wouldn't feel comfortable betting on the Bengals to get to 10 or 11, which will likely be the cutoff in the wild-card race. Their schedule isn't so tough to where they look doomed before they play a snap, though.

Pivotal Matchups

Cincinnati got blown out by 38 points to a Minnesota Vikings team that went 9-8 and experienced erratic quarterback play. It couldn't beat the New York Jets. Then it closed out the season by losing to the Cleveland Browns.

The Bengals opened 2024 by falling short against the New England Patriots, who proceeded to go on a six-game losing streak.

As important as their AFC North tilts are, Burrow and Co. can't afford to throw away what are basically their gimmes. If they want to be considered a playoff team, they have to take care of business against Tennessee, Miami and the New Orleans Saints.