You’re staring at your phone, checking the clock, and wondering if you have enough time to grab a 3-way from Skyline before kickoff. We’ve all been there. Trying to figure out what time does the bengals game come on shouldn’t feel like deciphering a secret code, but with the way the NFL flexes games and swaps networks, it's easy to get mixed up.
Honestly, the 2025-26 season has been a bit of a rollercoaster for the Who Dey nation. After a 6-11 finish that wrapped up with a tough 20-18 loss to the Browns on January 4, 2026, the Bengals are officially in the offseason. That means if you're looking for a game today, you're going to see a lot of empty turf at Paycor Stadium.
But don't check out just yet.
Even though Joe Burrow and the gang aren't in the playoffs this year, the timing of their games is something every fan needs to master for the 2026 season. If you're like me, you probably still have "Bengal Brain" and find yourself checking the TV guide on Sunday afternoons out of habit.
Why the 1:00 PM Slot is Changing
For decades, the answer to what time does the bengals game come on was almost always "1:00 PM on CBS." Simple. Easy.
But things are getting weird. In the 2025 season, we saw more "flexing" than a bodybuilder at the Arnold Classic. The NFL now has the power to move Sunday afternoon games into the Sunday Night Football slot with only a few days' notice. They do this to make sure the biggest matchups get the most eyeballs. For a team like Cincinnati, which usually draws high ratings because of Burrow’s star power, this happens more often than you'd think.
Last season, we saw the Bengals play in almost every possible window. We had the 8:15 PM Monday Night game in Denver and that massive Thanksgiving night game against the Ravens at 8:20 PM. If you didn't have your notifications turned on, you probably missed the first quarter of something important.
What Time Does the Bengals Game Come On During the Offseason?
Right now? It doesn't.
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The Bengals' 2025 season officially ended in early January 2026. Because they finished 4th in the AFC North, they didn't make the cut for the Wild Card round that started on January 10. While teams like the Texans and Steelers were battling it out in the snow, the Bengals were already heading home to regroup.
If you’re looking ahead to the 2026-27 schedule, here is the basic blueprint of when to expect the games:
- Sunday Early Window: 1:00 PM ET. This is still the "bread and butter" for the Bengals.
- Sunday Late Window: 4:05 PM or 4:25 PM ET. Usually happens when they play a West Coast team or a massive "Game of the Week" on FOX.
- Prime Time: 8:15 PM or 8:20 PM ET. This includes Sunday Night, Monday Night, and Thursday Night Football.
Finding the Right Channel (It’s Not Just CBS Anymore)
Gone are the days when you just needed a pair of rabbit ears and a prayer.
Nowadays, knowing what time does the bengals game come on is only half the battle; you also have to know where it is. In 2025, games were scattered across CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, and even Prime Video.
If it's a Thursday night game, you better have your Amazon login ready. If it’s a Sunday night game, you’re looking for NBC or Peacock. It’s a bit of a mess, truthfully. I’ve spent more than one kickoff frantically trying to remember my brother-in-law's Paramount+ password just to see the opening drive.
The 2026 Opponents: A Sneak Peek
We already know who the Bengals will face in the 2026 season, even if the exact dates and times won't be out until the NFL schedule release in May.
Since they finished in last place in the division, they actually get a "last-place schedule," which sounds bad but is actually a gift. It means they'll play other teams that struggled in 2025. You can expect home games against the usual suspects—Ravens, Browns, and Steelers—but also matchups with the Jaguars and the Titans.
When the schedule drops in May 2026, pay close attention to the "TBD" slots. The NFL leaves the final week of the season (Week 18) without a time or date until the very last minute to ensure the games with playoff implications get the prime spots.
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Actionable Next Steps for Bengals Fans
If you want to make sure you never miss a kickoff again, here’s how to prep for the 2026 season:
- Sync your digital calendar. Don't manually type in the games. Go to the official Bengals website in May and use their "Sync to Calendar" feature. It updates automatically if a game gets flexed from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
- Check the "Official Broadcaster" list. Local fans in Cincinnati usually get games on WKRC (CBS) or WXIX (FOX), but if you live in Dayton or Columbus, the "local" game might be different if the Browns or Colts are playing at the same time.
- Audit your streaming services. If you’re a cord-cutter, you basically need a combination of a live TV service (like Fubo or Hulu + Live TV) and specific apps like Prime Video to catch every single snap.
The wait for the 2026 kickoff starts now. It's a long summer, but at least we won't have to wonder what time does the bengals game come on once that first September whistle blows.