With a difficult beginning and end to their season, the Cincinnati Bengals have a stretch of games in the heart of their schedule that they need to take advantage of.
Based on opponents’ records last season, the Cincinnati Bengals have the third most difficult schedule coming up in 2022. The stripes will head to Tampa Bay, Foxborough, New Orleans, and Dallas next season. They’ll host Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, plus Josh Allen and the Bills. Last, but certainly not least, the Bengals are still members of one of the best divisions in football, the AFC North.
Everything on their schedule is pointing to next season being a true test. Luckily for the Bengals, they’ll get a stretch of games that should help them find their rhythm. Here is the easiest stretch of games for Cincinnati next season.
WEEK 7: Vs. Atlanta Falcons
The NFC South was once considered one of the best divisions in football, but the Bengals lucked out with getting all four teams this season. While Tampa Bay and New Orleans will be tough on the road, Atlanta and Carolina should be blowouts. Desmond Ridder will get a lot of attention in this game if he is starting by Week 7, but that shouldn’t matter; Bengals should win by a lot in this one.
WEEK 8: AT Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson is going to be suspended; whether that suspension will be four games, eight games, 10 games, or a full season, we don’t know. If the NFL does its jobs correctly, this suspension has no chance of being anything less than eight games. At eight games, Watson would be sidelined for this matchup. With the Browns relying on Jacoby Brissett under center, Joe Burrow and the Bengals get primetime revenge in Cleveland.
WEEK 9: Vs. Carolina Panthers
As mentioned before, the Falcons and Panthers games need to be no doubters. Christian McCaffrey has struggled to stay healthy in the last two seasons, but whether or not he is playing in this game, it should be a win for Cincinnati at home.
WEEK 10: BYE
After three of the easier games on their schedule, the Bengals get blessed with a BYE week before heading to Pittsburgh.
WEEK 11: AT Pittsburgh Steelers
Coming off a much-needed BYE week, and with how Cincinnati performed last season in Pittsburgh, fans should be expecting another big win here. With the Steelers quarterback situation in question, expect the Bengals defense to have a huge game here. This game is on Sunday Night Football in the Steel City but it should still be all stripes in primetime.
These matchups give Cincinnati the easiest stretch of games in the 2022 regular season.