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That easy Bengals schedule preseason prophecy is officially coming to fruition

ByMatt Fitzgerald
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Oct 25, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) leaves the field after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) leaves the field after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Cincinnati Bengals are riding high off a 35-13 victory over the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. The good vibes should only continue, too.

By pure preseason over/under Vegas win totals, the Bengals had the second-easiest schedule coming into the 2026 campaign. Now, it's looking like an even rosier road back to the playoffs.

With a 4-2 mark through what might prove to be the toughest part of their schedule, Cincinnati is positioned to go on a serious run and finally return to the postseason for the first time since the 202 season.

Cincinnati looks to have the easiest slate in the NFL the rest of the way

Ben Baldwin on X provided a snapshot of just how intimidating the remainder of the Bengals' schedule is:

Getting the Tennessee Titans in Week 8 is a blessing and should be a layup at home. However, we'll find out a lot about this Bengals team by how they respond to such an inferior opponent.

Look, there's real potential for a letdown versus Tennessee. Week 9 is a trip to Madrid to take on the Atlanta Falcons, who just knocked off the previously undefeated 49ers. It'd be easy to still be geeked up from hanging 35 unanswered second-half points in Baltimore, and to look ahead to the international game.

But assuming the Bengals can just knock off the Titans, they can maintain control of their destiny to win the AFC North.

A couple prime-time games upon the return from Spain gives Joe Burrow a grand three-week stage for his MVP case. And the defense looks much improved from last year thanks to Dexter Lawrence and Co., so Burrow should get his chances to show just how good he really is.

As long as Burrow is left to his own devices and gets even one or two key stops from the other side of the ball per game, the Bengals are in good shape.

It's pretty wild that Cincinnati's remaining strength of schedule is so weak considering two matchups still remain against the division-leading 5-2 Browns. All of Cleveland's wins have been by four points or less, though, and they'll have their work cut out in Weeks 13 and 18 against these Bengals.

One more plot point of note: The Indianapolis Colts could be in full fire sale mode after firing GM Chris Ballard. Come Week 16, their superstar running back Jonathan Taylor and other key players could be off the roster. I'm putting it out into the universe that Taylor will be in Bengals stripes by then. Let's see!

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