Bengals to open NFL season vs. Bucs, host Ravens on Thursday night

For the first time since their Super Bowl season of 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals will not play a Thursday night game in Baltimore.

As the NFL prepares to release the full 2026 schedule at 8 p.m. ET Thursday, May 14 (ESPN, NFL Network), NFL reporter Jordan Schultz posted news that the Bengals will host the Ravens for a “Thursday Night Football” game in Week 17.

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Schultz posted a report about two games for the Bengals. He wrote that Cincinnati will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the season opener at 1 p.m. ET Sept. 13. And the Bengals and Ravens will square off in prime time on Dec. 31 at Paycor Stadium.

On Wednesday, the NFL announced the Bengals will face the Atlanta Falcons at 9:30 a.m. ET Nov. 8 in Madrid, Spain.

AFC North rivalry

Though it worked out well, the Bengals pointed out the schedule quirk in May 2025 when the NFL announced a fourth consecutive Thursday night road game against their AFC North foe.

“Playing in Baltimore for the fourth straight prime-time year isn’t ideal,” Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow said then, . “Maybe we can get one of those in Cincinnati next year. Please.”