Instant analysis after Bengals' 2026 schedule revealed

Bengals NFL schedule fallout

Tough scene for the Bengals early. The seven straight 1 p.m. ET games will keep things simple for players and fans. But the Week 6 bye means they will need to go from late October through the end of 2026 and into 2027 without much of a break.

Also of note this year, NFL teams are no longer allowed to decide whether they want their bye week after an international game.

So…the Bengals’ bye is Week 6, while the overseas game in Madrid is Week 9.

After Week 9? The Bengals play back-to-back primetime games in the following weeks, appearing on a Sunday night and then a Monday night, with both games against would-be contenders.

The Bengals would have loved to catch the AFC North much earlier in the season, too. Every divisional rival is starting over with a new head coach, which could leave them vulnerable early in the year. Instead, the Bengals play Pittsburgh in Week 3, then don’t see an AFC North team again until Week 7. Three of their final six games are against AFC North rivals.

At a glance, the Bengals have a shot at four AFC wins before the Week 6 bye. But they’ll need to endure the AFC North and lots of travel and primetime spotlights down the stretch to get into the playoffs.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Instant analysis after Bengals' 2026 schedule revealed