The Bengals 2026 opponents have officially been set after the conclusion of Week 17:
HOME
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
AWAY
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Indianapolis Colts
- Houston Texans
- Miami Dolphins
- Washington Commanders
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
The NFL schedule is determined by a specific formula. Each team plays their divisional opponents twice, once at home and once on the road. The Bengals are currently 3-2 against the AFC North entering Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns.
Teams also play four games against a specific division in their conference, two at home and two on the road, rotating divisions. For Cincinnati, it will play the AFC South in 2026 after playing the AFC East this season. The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans, both boasting number one overall picks at quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and Cam Ward, will come to Paycor Stadium, while the Bengals will go to Indianapolis and Houston to play the Colts and Texans.
Teams also play four games against a division in the opposite conference, two at home and two on the road, on a rotating basis. The Bengals will play the NFC South in 2026, hosting the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and traveling to Charlotte and Atlanta to play the Falcons and Panthers.
Squads also match up with one team from the two remaining divisions in their conference, which is decided based on division standing. The Bengals finished third in the AFC North this season, so they will get the Kansas City Chiefs (third in AFC West) at home and the Miami Dolphins (third in AFC East) on the road. The Bengals played in Miami this season, defeating the Dolphins 45-21. They last hosted the Chiefs in 2022, winning 27-24.
The newest addition to the formula occurred in March 2021 when NFL clubs approved a new 17-game season schedule. The 17th opponent has to come from the opposite conference (NFC) and be from a division that the team didn't play the previous year or isn't scheduled to play that season or the following season. Once the division is determined, the opponent is based on divisional standings. Home and away alternates year-to-year. The Bengals will go on the road to face the Washington Commanders, who finished third behind the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys and ahead of the New York Giants in the NFC East.
