The Bengals are bringing back one of their familiar season-opening looks in 2026, and it starts with orange.
Cincinnati announced that it will “Open in Orange” for its season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Sept. 13. It marks the third straight year the Bengals have used the theme for their home opener.
The first two versions of the orange-out came with plenty of drama, though not always the kind Cincinnati wanted. In 2024, the Bengals rolled out the look against the New England Patriots and wound up on the wrong side of a 16-10 loss. Despite being heavily favored, Cincinnati was limited to 224 total yards, committed two turnovers and fell to a Patriots team led by Jacoby Brissett.
That New England team didn’t exactly turn the league upside down after that, either. The Patriots lost their next six games and finished 4-13, while the Bengals eventually found their rhythm late in the season but missed the AFC Wild Card by one game.
Last season’s orange-clad opener turned into a much bigger setback. Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars and was sidelined for more than two months. Cincinnati still managed to beat Jacksonville, with Jake Browning steering a game-winning 92-yard touchdown drive in the final seconds.
“Open in Orange” is just the first of the Bengals’ 2026 theme-game announcements this week. The team is also expected to reveal “Stripe The Jungle” and “White Bengal” matchups.
In Other News...
Orlando Brown Jr. Just Fueled Bengals Hype Around One Rookie
The Bengals used a second-round pick on Cashius Howell and have spent the offseason talking up the Texas A&M edge rushers work ethic and upside. In practices, he has already shown enough to draw attention from teammates, and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has been among the veterans publicly encouraged by what he has seen from the rookie.
Browns praise matters because Howell is not just learning one role. Cincinnati has been cross-training him as an occasional off-ball linebacker to help with a roster need, which adds another layer to a rookie already trying to carve out playing time on a crowded defense. For a team looking for immediate value from its draft class, Howells early progress has become one of the more interesting developments of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bengals QB Jake Browning Already Facing An Unexpected Threat
Jake Brownings move this offseason gave him a fresh start and a chance to compete for a backup quarterback job in Tampa Bay, where his experience should count for plenty early in the process. For a player who spent time developing behind the scenes in Cincinnati, landing in a new quarterback room was supposed to be an opportunity to settle in and show he could be a steady hand if called upon.
The early challenge, though, has come from an undrafted rookie who has turned heads during preseason work and made the depth chart look a little less settled than it seemed at first. Browning still has the edge that comes with having been around the league longer, but the final roster picture is not locked in, and how the rest of camp unfolds could determine whether that experience is enough. [Read more 🡒]