Football is officially back on the calendar, and the Cincinnati Bengals already have a full roadmap for 2026.
The league opened preseason play with the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6, when the Carolina Panthers met the Arizona Cardinals. For most teams, including Cincinnati, the exhibition stretch began Aug. 13 and runs through Aug.
- The Bengals got theirs started with a home date against the Detroit Lions on Aug. 13, and they came away with a 16-14 win.
Cincinnati’s next preseason stop is at home again on Aug. 22 against the Chicago Bears, before closing the exhibition slate on Aug. 28 at Lincoln Financial Field against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The regular season doesn’t wait long after that. The NFL opens on Wednesday, Sept. 9, with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in an 8:20 p.m. ET matchup that doubles as a Super Bowl 60 rematch.
Cincinnati’s own season starts four days later. The Bengals open at home on Sept. 13 against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET.
The Bengals’ 2026 schedule is packed with some notable dates, including three primetime games and a New Year’s Eve appearance at Paycor Stadium. They’ll also start and finish the season at home, and they have an international trip to Madrid, Spain on the docket.
Here’s the full Bengals regular-season slate:
Week 1: Sept. 13, Bengals vs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
Week 2: Sept. 20, Bengals at Houston Texans at 1 p.m.
ET on CBS.
Week 3: Sept.
27, Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
Week 4: Oct. 4, Bengals vs.
Jacksonville Jaguars at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
Week 5: Oct. 11, Bengals at Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m.
ET on FOX.
BYE WEEK
Week 7: Oct. 25, Bengals at Baltimore Ravens at 1 p.m.
ET on CBS.
Week 8: Nov.
1, Bengals vs. Tennessee Titans at 1 p.m.
ET on CBS.
Week 9: Nov.
8, Bengals at Atlanta Falcons (the game is in Madrid, Spain; Bengals are the visiting team ) at 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network.
Week 10: Nov. 15, Bengals vs.
Pittsburgh Steelers at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday Night Football on NBC.
Week 11: Nov. 23, Bengals at Washington Commanders at 8:15 p.m. on Monday Night Football on ESPN.
Week 12: Nov. 29, Bengals vs.
New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
Week 13: Dec. 6, Bengals at Cleveland Browns at 1 p.m.
ET on CBS.
Week 14: Dec.
13, Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs at 4:25 p.m.
ET on FOX.
Week 15: Dec.
20, Bengals at Carolina Panthers at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
Week 16: Dec. 26/27, Bengals at Indianapolis Colts.
Time and network are TBD.
Week 17: Dec.
31, Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens at 8:15 p.m.
ET on Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime.
Week 18: Jan.
9/10, Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns.
Time and network are TBD.
The postseason picture ends with Super Bowl 61, set for Feb. 14, 2027.
The game is headed back to Los Angeles for the first time since 2022 and will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The last Super Bowl at SoFi came on Feb. 13, 2022, when the Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl 56.
In Other News...
Bengals Future Left Tackle Answer May Already Be Taking Shape
The Bengals long-term search for a left tackle is already starting to look ahead to the 2027 draft, and that class is shaping up as a promising place to hunt. CBS Sports writer Mike Renner recently labeled the offensive tackle group as a strong one, pointing to several prospects who could land in the top rounds and giving the Cincinnati front office a future pool worth monitoring.
Jordan Seaton and Lance Heard are among the names already surfacing as possible fits, with Renner breaking down what each player has shown in college and where the rough edges still are. For a Bengals team expected to keep left tackle on the shopping list, that kind of early evaluation matters, because the answer to a major roster question may be closer to arriving than it first seemed. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Win Couldnt Hide One Roster Concern As Cuts Near
The Bengals preseason win over the Bears on Aug. 22 gave Zac Taylor a look at the bottom of the roster after he chose not to play his starters following the joint practice, and it also sharpened the focus on one of the teams biggest remaining concerns. The offense held up well enough to finish the night with a victory, but the tackle spots were a problem area, with veterans Cody Ford and Jalen Rivers both having rough outings.
Dohnte Meyers was one of the bright spots, making five catches and adding work on kick and punt returns to strengthen his case as cuts approach. Still, for a Cincinnati team trying to sort out the final pieces of its roster, the performance up front left more questions than answers, especially with depth at offensive tackle now looking like a position the front office will have to keep weighing carefully. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Preseason Win Just Fueled Some Tough Roster Battles
The Bengals second preseason game brought plenty of encouraging tape from a 27-9 win over the Bears, and it also sharpened a few roster conversations that were already simmering. Cincinnati got useful work from players trying to carve out roles, with Colbie Young, Dohnte Meyers, Josh Johnson and Tanner Hudson among those drawing attention in the evaluative breakdown, while Landon Robinson also stood out in the kind of performance coaches notice this time of year.
On the other side of the ball, Al Goldens defense continued to give the staff something to build on, and Evan McPherson added his own reassuring touch in a game that had the Bengals looking deeper than the final score. Preseason wins are never just about the scoreboard, but nights like this tend to leave a lasting impression when the back end of the roster starts coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]