The Cincinnati Bengals' 2026 mock schedule features matchups against teams like the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens. The official NFL schedule will be released on Thursday at 8:00 PM ET.
Key points
Bengals' 2026 mock schedule includes notable matchups
Official NFL schedule release on Thursday at 8:00 PM ET
Week 1 features Bengals vs. Texans on Monday Night Football
Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson headline Week 2 matchup
Bengals have a bye week in Week 8
Mentioned in this story
Joe BurrowLamar JacksonTrey HendricksonJa'Marr ChaseTee Higgins
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt (57) strips the ball from Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) for a turnover in the fourth quarter of a Week 13 NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt (57) strips the ball from Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) for a turnover in the fourth quarter of a Week 13 NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
FOX 19 Sports Director Joe Danneman found it fascinating when I told him, on the latest Bengals Squad Show, that I do mock schedules. Therefore, this is my Mock Schedule for the Bengals ahead of the 2026 Season.
The entire NFL Schedule gets released on Thursday night at 8:oo PM ET, with the Bengalsâ schedule getting unveiled at 7:30 PM ET that night.
So without further ado, here is my guess at how the 2026 Bengals schedule plays out.
Bengals 2026 Mock Schedule
Week 1: @ Houston Texans (Monday Night Football)
Joe Burrow vs. C.J. Stroud. JaâMarr Chase and Tee Higgins vs. the Texansâ secondary. The Bengalsâ offensive line, which will enter as the best in the Joe Burrow era, will go up against the Texansâ ferocious defensive line. This matchup has a ton of strength-against-strength matchups within it.
Houston has been a thorn in the Bengalsâ side for nearly 20 years now, and they beat the Bengals in Cincinnati back in Week 10 of the 2023 season. Burrow sustained his wrist injury four days later. This would be a highly entertaining Week 1 matchup.
Q&A
What teams will the Cincinnati Bengals play in their 2026 season?
The Bengals are set to play the Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Commanders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Indianapolis Colts in the 2026 season.
When will the official Cincinnati Bengals schedule be released?
The official Bengals schedule will be unveiled on Thursday night at 7:30 PM ET, just before the entire NFL schedule is released at 8:00 PM ET.
What is the significance of the Bengals' Week 1 matchup against the Texans?
The Week 1 matchup against the Texans is significant as it features a strong offensive line facing a formidable defensive line, and Houston has historically been a tough opponent for the Bengals.
Who are the key players to watch in the Bengals' 2026 schedule?
Key players to watch include Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and the returning Trey Hendrickson in the matchup against the Ravens.
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Joe Burrow vs. Lamar Jackson is the subplot in this matchup. Thatâs how good of a matchup it is and how highly anticipated this game will be. Perhaps the biggest storyline going into this game will be Trey Hendricksonâs return to the Jungle since leaving the Bengals in free agency and signing with the Ravens.
Sunday Night Football on NBC in Week 2 will make this an early-season heavyweight fight that will determine early control in the AFC North.
The last two times the Bengals played in Pittsburgh in Week 3, they won. Back-to-back AFC North games early in the season arenât ideal, especially a road division game after a home division game in prime time. Pittsburgh isnât a team thatâs going to scare AFC North teams and teams around the NFL this season, but games against them are always physical battles. Joe Burrow has won three straight starts in Pittsburgh, so confidence should be high going into this game.
Believe it or not, the Jaguars hold a lot of significance in recent Bengals history. In Week 4 of the 2020 season, the Bengals beat the Jaguars for the first win of Joe Burrowâs career. One year later, the Bengals beat the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football in Week 4 on a night when the Bengals inducted their inaugural Ring of Honor class.
Two years later, Jake Browning led the Bengals to an unexpected win in Jacksonville on Monday Night Football in early December to ignite a late-season push. Last year, well, we donât need to talk about that. What Iâm looking forward to this season is seeing Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence lead their two teams, both with aspirations this season, in prime time.
Like the Jaguars, the Commanders also have a lot of significance to recent Bengals history. Itâs not good, either. I just hope this time in London, the two teams donât end in a tie.
A lot of teams will have their bye week after they go overseas early in the season. I hope the Bengals donât do that and have their bye week later in the season. The good news is the Bengalsâ schedule this season doesnât have any long road trips in the United States, so they could have a home game or a short road trip the week after getting back from London.
I mocked a home game against Tampa Bay, a matchup between Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield. The two quarterbacks produced multiple great slugfests when Mayfield was quarterbacking the Browns, and this matchup could produce another one.
For two NFL teams not in the same city, this is the shortest distance between two teams in the Bengals and Colts. This will be the first time the Bengals face former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, and the Coltsâ defense also has several former Bengals defensive players on their team.
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: @ Baltimore Ravens (4:25 on CBS)
For the love of all things Skyline Chili, please do not schedule the Bengals for a Thursday night game in Baltimore. Just donât. A 4:25 game on CBS on Sunday? Thatâs fine. On the second Sunday in November, this would be a great matchup.
The Titans were a staple on the Bengalsâ schedule for the first few seasons of the Joe Burrow era. There was the AFC Divisional game in 2021, the Week 12 game in 2022 when Ted Karras gave the International Peace sign to Titansâ fans, and there was the game in 2024 when Sam Hubbard caught a touchdown on the last snap of his career.
This season, the Bengals canât overlook the Titans. Theyâre not contenders, but theyâre not going to be a pushover this season.
The last time Joe Burrow played a game in Atlanta was when he was quarterbacking LSU to the National Championship. In the CFP Semifinals against Oklahoma in Atlanta, Burrow threw for seven touchdowns in the first half. Not to mention, Burrow threw for 481 yards in his only start against the Falcons back in Week 7 of 2022.
Fireworks could be expected again.
Week 12: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Black Friday, 3:00 on Prime Video)
This would be awesome. Steelers-Bengals on Black Friday. Thatâs what this rivalry deserves.
A second straight season with a road trip to Miami in December. Joe Burrow threw for four touchdowns and 300 yards against the Dolphins last season. He should do so again this season against a Dolphins team thatâs going nowhere this season.
The Saints are one of the most interesting teams going into the NFL this season. Tyler Shough may be the answer at quarterback, and they have some nice pieces around him. But can they compete with the Bengalsâ offense in the cold? That would be the question in this game.
Week 16: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Christmas Night on FOX)
This is about as good as it gets. Christmas night in the Jungle against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, with Tom Brady on the call for FOX. Sign me up for this.
