In the end, after all the leaks and peeks and sneaks and the 2026 NFL schedule was invariably released, Bengals captain and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. had news for you.

"You know? I really don't care who we play or when we play," says Brown Jr. as he goes through this thing for the ninth time. "But, I guess it's cool to know your work schedule."

And Brown thinks the work is going to actually be enhanced by this schedule even though there is no bye after the Bengals play the Falcons in Madrid. Instead, exactly a week later on Nov. 15, the Bengals host the Steelers on Sunday Night Football while the Oct. 18 bye is the earliest in the eight seasons of the head coach Zac Taylor Era.

"I've got no complaint about that. As a player, we'll get on a roll and get on a roll as a team. Normally, right around that week seven or week eight, it's always great because the team is settled in the seven-to-eight range," Brown Jr. says.

In 2023, the Bengals came out of an Oct. 22 bye at 3-3 and ripped off two dominating wins over the 49ers and Bills, before losing late to the Texans. But they rebounded and had the lead in Baltimore before losing quarterback Joe Burrow for the year. When they went 5-1 after the 2024 bye to end the season, it wasn't enough to make the playoffs.

"Your identity is established. A lot of good football is played after that week six to seven period," Brown Jr. says. "And I don't think the bye matters as much as it would with other teams because they take care of us here."

And he loves, doesn't like, but loves how the Bengals play seven straight games at 1 p.m. to open the season. Brown (as do the coaches) covet that ability to get into a groove.

"I think that's perfect. Love that. No late game nights, a lot of rest, the same routine," Brown Jr. says. "That consistency is going to help us."

There was a sigh of relief throughout Bengaldom when the NFL ended the four-year streak of sending the Bengals to Baltimore for a prime-time game. It did it in a big way when it brought the Ravens into Paycor Stadium for a Thursday night Prime Video New Year’s Eve game.

"I love the home prime-time game any time," says running back Chase Brown. "But it's great to play one where people are celebrating the new year."

After all the leaks and peeks, and sneaks, a guy like Chase Brown says just tell him where the game is. But, yes, Dec. 31 is a little more special now.

"Honestly, I like playing in Baltimore. They have a great environment, too," Brown says. "But we'll beat that out with the energy here."