The Cincinnati Bengals were projected to have one of the easier schedules in the NFL this season. Let's just say it has and it hasn't played out that way.
Not sure how many people had the Bucs and Texans as easy-ish wins to kick things off, never mind both of them starting 0-4. Then, losing at Pittsburgh in such stupid, self-inflicted special teams fashion underscored how much the AFC North is up for the taking.
Falling to the Jaguars at home was disappointing but not totally unexpected. Not having Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins by game's end wasn't ideal.
So here we are, y'all. A 3-2 record and a lot of work to do if the Bengals are gonna hit my initial projected mark of 13-4 from May. I figured we're due for an updated look at how the schedule may play out.
Bengals schedule predictions reveal a tougher slate than preseason forecasts anticipated
Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET — Oct. 25
Gonna just make this clean and flip the initial score I had of Baltimore winning by 11 points. The Ravens blow a shocking number of games, and Lamar Jackson misses more games than people realize. More than Joe Burrow in the last five years, in fact. Lamar may will his way back into the lineup for Week 7 after witnessing a 13-10 loss to the Browns. However, his rust and questionable o-line play right into the hands of Dexter Lawrence and the Bengals defense.
Prediction: Bengals 34, Ravens 23
Week 8: vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET — Nov. 1
If not for a blocked punt for a touchdown against the Colts on Sunday, the Titans would still be winless. They're a terrible football team. Cam Ward is not The Guy, or so it appears. What could've possibly possessed Robert Saleh to take this job? He ain't gonna get a third crack at one. This contest will reinforce to Tennessee just how far away they are.
Prediction: Bengals 31, Titans 3
Week 9: at Atlanta Falcons, 9:30 a.m. ET — Nov. 8 (in Madrid, Spain)
Initially had this at 38-7 when I thought Michael Penix Jr.'s third ACL injury may be one too many and Tua Tagovailoa would start. Now that Penix has looked pretty darn good, I can't help but think this could be a big letdown. Bijan Robinson could very well run all over Cincinnati. I know Joe Shiesty is geeked up to go abroad, but the ball may not be in his hands often enough to secure a win.
Prediction: Falcons 27, Bengals 24
Week 10: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET (Sunday Night Football)
Thought this was for sure gonna be a sweep, then Week 3 happened. If not for the roughing the punter penalty and the muffed punt that led to 10 Steelers points, that game was in the bag for the Bengals. Still, Pittsburgh will force a bad mistake or two by Cincinnati to keep this Week 10 rematch close. I just trust Burrow more to make a couple critical throws than Aaron Rodger to pull it out.
Prediction: Bengals 20, Steelers 16
Week 11: at Washington Commanders, 8:15 p.m. ET — Nov. 23 (Monday Night Football)
This was the first of back-to-back losses I initially had for the Bengals, something of a post-Madrid hangover. Unless the Commanders beat the 49ers in San Francisco tonight, I can't imagine a scenario where they beat the Bengals. Jayden Daniels has regressed to a totally pedestrian passer, and the Commanders came into Sunday's slate with the 30th-ranked scoring defense. Not a good combo!
Prediction: Bengals 38, Commanders 17
Week 12: vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET — Nov. 29
Is Tyler Shough the future face of the franchise for the Saints? I thought zero chance when he was drafted. He's shown flashes. However, he apparently can't throw between the hashes to a Russell Wilson-esque degree. The statistical anecdote posted below will reveal why the Bengals are such a bad matchup for New Orleans. Shough apparently can't take advantage of running backs, tight ends, or in-breaking routes from wide receivers. The Bengals notoriously struggle in coverage in the middle of the field and against tight ends in particular. And the Saints' defense isn't good enough to stop Burrow and Co. often enough to eke out a win at Paycor Stadium.
Prediction: Bengals 34, Saints 20
Tyler Shough has attempted 149 passes over the last four weeks.
— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) October 16, 2026
He's 0/2 on pass attempts between the hashes. Yeah, you read that right. 2/149 attempts between the hashes over the last four weeks.
Week 13: at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET — Dec. 6
This just has "lots of field goals" written all over it. Another Battle of Ohio that could have much bigger playoff implications than I initially anticipated. Just because the Browns always give Burrow and the offense so much trouble, I'm gonna say Cleveland at least splits the season series. We gotta find losses in here somewhere. I won't pick the Bengals to win every single game, come on now!
Prediction: Browns 19, Bengals 16
Week 14: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET — Dec. 13
As good as the Chiefs are this season thus far en route to a 5-0 record, Taylor Swift's birthday remains the most compelling subplot of this renewed rivalry of sorts. The only AFC team who's really been able to go toe to toe with Kansas City in the Patrick Mahomes era and not flinch is a healthy Joe Burrow-led Cincinnati Bengals team. Unfortunately, the opportunities to have major games against the Chiefs have been few and far between of late. This could be where everything changes. Travis Kelce, sorry man, your boo's bday is gonna be ruined for a few hours of the day. Hope you can handle it. I'm sure you'll be fine.
Prediction: Bengals 29, Chiefs 24
Week 15: at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET — Dec. 20
I previously said I'm still not a Bryce Young believer. I mentioned how even after his good games before, you'd look at the box score and he'd have a terrible passer rating. Well, he's thrown 11 TDs and two INTs this season, and yet...he has a sub-100 (98.5) rating. Young completes only 60.2% of his throws. That ain't good enough. That siad, Young is my fantasy QB now. I dig him. He's a big play hunter all of a sudden. I have a bad feeling about this one. Could be a trap game of sorts and an emotional comedown after Week 14's huge win over the Chiefs.
Prediction: Panthers 31, Bengals 27
Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts, Time TBD — Dec. 26/27
People forget that before Daniel Jones played like an MVP prior to injuries in 2025, he was in an open, close QB competition with Anthony Richardson that pushed close up to Week 1. At the rate the Colts are declining, I won't be surprised if Richardson is tossed out there...but like, he's had to have improved afer all this time, and his running ability next to Jonathan Taylor could help Indy light up the scoreboard on Cincinnati's vulnerable run defense. However, the Bengals are about to do horrible things to their ex-defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and that outmatched Colts back seven.
Prediction: Bengals 41, Colts 34
Week 17: vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday Night Football; New Year's Eve)
Funny I mentioned last time how the Ravens coming off their last matchup with the Browns on a short week would be so grueling due to Myles Garrett. That is no longer the case! it will be grueling because of Jared Verse and the fact that, well, the Browns are a pretty good team. It's a much easier opponent for Cincinnati the week prior, and I believe that leads to a season sweep of the Ravens.
Prediction: Bengals 24, Ravens 17
Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns, Time TBD — Jan. 9/10
Whether the Bengals have clinched a playoff spot or not, Cleveland won't be some cakewalk. Even if the Browns' rather hot start proves to be a mirage, their defense is for real. We can't really let the Cleveland Clowns sweep ups, though, right? Come on now. Not at home. Not with the playoffs and possibly the division on the line!
Prediction: Bengals 27, Browns 20
Cincinnati Bengals 2026 final record prediction: 12-5; AFC North champions
So in the end, only one game worse than I had the Bengals in May. And I can easily see the three other teams in the division losing at least four games from here on out. Still looking pretty darn good, Who Dey Heads!
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