The Cincinnati Bengals’ 2026 schedule is looking a lot friendlier than it did back in June.
That’s the takeaway from Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, who last Tuesday pointed to Cincinnati as the team whose slate has shifted the most toward easier games since June. The Las Vegas Raiders came in second, with the New York Jets third.
This isn’t about the schedule itself changing. It’s about the market getting colder on several of the Bengals’ opponents.
Cincinnati is set to play the Cleveland Browns twice, and it also has matchups with the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sharp noted that those three teams are among the top four NFL teams whose win totals have been bet against the most since June. As more money has come in on the under for Cleveland, Miami, and Tampa Bay, the Bengals’ schedule has been viewed as less daunting.
That matters for a Bengals team trying to get back to the playoffs after an injury-hit, disappointing 2025 season.
The Browns games already give Cincinnati an edge in the sense that they come from within the division. If the Dolphins and Buccaneers also fall short of expectations, the Bengals could be staring at three more winnable spots on the calendar.
None of that guarantees anything once the season starts. Injuries, roster changes, and surprise breakout performances can flip the feel of a matchup in a hurry.
Even so, this is a positive development for Cincinnati. The Bengals still have plenty to sort out before the season gets here, but a schedule that’s trending easier gives them a little more room to breathe.
They still have to deal with an AFC North that remains brutal, with Cincinnati, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the mix. But based on how betting markets have moved since June, the Bengals’ path may not be quite as punishing as it first looked.
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