Bengals Schedule: Way too early game-by-game predictions for 2022

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end B.J. Hill (92) celebrates a sack in the first quarter of the NFL Week One game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Minnesota Vikings at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. The Bengals led 14-7 at halftime.Minnesota Vikings At Cincinnati Bengals /

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Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hands the ball off to Giovani Bernard #25 (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Week 15 @ Buccaneers (Dec. 18 — 4:25 EST)

The gauntlet of the schedule is underway as the Bengals head to Tampa Bay for their next game and it’s not going to be an easy one. They’ll get Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on the road in what could be one of their toughest games of the season.

This is the time of the year where Brady and his team buckle down and get into playoff mode. They could be fighting for the No. 1 seed in the NFC and they’re not going to let Joey Franchise and the pesky Bengals get in their way.

Prediction: Bengals lose 34-20 (9-5)

Week 16 @ Patriots (Dec. 24 — 1:00 EST)

With Christmas Day falling on a Sunday, the majority of the games will be played on Christmas Eve instead, meaning we’ll see the fearless stripes play on a Saturday. They’ll be in Foxboro for this game for a date with the Patriots.

New England surprised some people last year, bouncing back in year 2 of the post-Brady era and making the playoffs. While this could certainly be a trap game and will probably end up being closer than what fans are anticipating, the stripes get the victory.

Prediction: Bengals win 14-10 (10-5)