If you're waking up and checking your phone to see what time bengals play today, I've got some news that might be a bit of a bummer.
Basically, the Cincinnati Bengals aren't playing today.
Today is Thursday, January 15, 2026. If you've been following this roller coaster of a season, you know the regular season just wrapped up with that tough Week 18 loss to the Cleveland Browns. While the city of Cincinnati always holds out hope for a deep playoff run, the reality of the 2025-2026 season is that the Bengals didn't make the cut for the postseason this time around.
Instead of a kickoff today, the team is currently in "clean-out-the-locker" mode. It's that weird, quiet time in the NFL calendar where half the league is gearing up for the Divisional Round and the other half—including our Bengals—is already looking at mock drafts and free agency lists.
Why the Bengals aren't on the field today
It feels strange not seeing Joe Burrow under center in mid-January, doesn't it? We've gotten used to those deep runs. But the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" business.
The 2025 season was a grind. The team finished 3rd in the AFC North, which, honestly, is a brutal division to live in. When you’re fighting the Steelers and Ravens twice a year, there’s zero room for error. The Bengals ended their year at 8-9 after that 20-18 heartbreaker against Cleveland on January 4th.
Because they didn't clinch a Wild Card spot, their season officially ended ten days ago.
Right now, the NFL is in the middle of the playoffs. Wild Card weekend just finished up a few days ago. If you’re looking for football to watch today, you’re actually a couple of days early for the next round of action. The Divisional Round doesn't start until Saturday, January 17th.
Here is what the actual playoff schedule looks like for this week, even though Cincinnati isn't in the mix:
- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos at 4:30 PM ET.
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks at 8:00 PM ET.
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots at 3:00 PM ET.
- Sunday, Jan 18: LA Rams vs. Chicago Bears at 6:30 PM ET.
What's next for the Bengals?
Since we aren't asking what time bengals play today for a few more months, the conversation has shifted entirely to the 2026 off-season.
The big news? The NFL has already locked in the opponents for next year. While we don't have the exact times or dates yet—those usually don't drop until the big schedule release in May—we do know who is coming to Paycor Stadium and who the Bengals have to visit.
Home Games at Paycor Stadium for 2026
Cincinnati will be hosting some heavy hitters. The schedule formula means we get the usual AFC North rivals, but there are some interesting "out of division" matchups that stand out.
- The North: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers.
- The Big Names: Kansas City Chiefs (this is always a massive game), Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans.
- NFC South Visitors: New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Road Trips on the 2026 Calendar
Pack your bags, because the away schedule looks like it has some frequent flyer miles attached to it.
- Divisional: Ravens, Browns, Steelers.
- AFC South/East Trips: Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins.
- NFC South/East Trips: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and the Washington Commanders.
Addressing the Joe Burrow Rumors
Honestly, you can't talk about the Bengals' schedule without talking about #9. There’s been a lot of chatter lately about his frustration with the way the 2025 season ended. After the Week 18 loss, Burrow was pretty vocal about the fact that "changes need to be made."
That doesn't mean he's going anywhere. It just means the front office is under a lot of pressure this spring. They hold the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s a prime spot to get some serious protection for Joe or maybe another weapon if Tee Higgins' situation changes.
The defense also has some holes to plug. Watching Myles Garrett break the single-season sack record this past year was a wake-up call for the entire AFC North. Cincinnati's offensive line has to be better if we want to be playing in mid-January next year instead of sitting at home.
How to stay ready for the 2026 Season
Even though there’s no game today, the "business" of football never stops. If you’re a die-hard fan, here is what you should be watching for over the next few months to stay ahead of the curve.
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- The Scouting Combine (Late February): This is where we see who that 10th pick might actually be. Watch for offensive tackles and interior defensive linemen.
- Free Agency (March): This is the make-or-break period. If the Bengals don't spend some of that cap space on veteran depth, it's going to be another long year.
- The NFL Draft (April): This is our "Super Bowl" for the spring.
- Schedule Release (May): This is when we can finally answer the "what time" question with 100% certainty for every single week of the 2026 season.
Practical Steps for Fans
- Check Your Tickets: If you’re a season ticket holder, renewal notices usually start hitting inboxes around this time of year.
- Sync Your Calendars: Once the May schedule drops, most fan apps offer a "sync to calendar" feature. Do it immediately so you don't accidentally book a wedding during the Chiefs game.
- Watch the Divisional Round: Even though the Bengals aren't in it, watching the Bills and Texans will give you a good look at the competition we have to leapfrog next year.
The hunt for a championship is on pause for now, but the work to get back there is already happening behind the scenes at Paycor Stadium. While there's no kickoff to catch today, the road to the 2026 season opener on September 8th has officially begun.
Keep an eye on the waiver wire and the coaching staff changes—that's the "game" being played right now.