So, you're looking for the next kickoff. You want to know when are the bengals playing because, honestly, Sunday feels pretty empty without Joe Burrow under center. I get it. But I have to be the bearer of some slightly depressing news if you’re checking the calendar for this weekend.
The Cincinnati Bengals are done for the season.
There’s no game this Sunday. No Monday Night Football appearance. No Wild Card miracle. After a gritty but ultimately disappointing 2025 campaign that ended with an 18-20 loss to the Cleveland Browns on January 4, 2026, the Bengals finished with a 6-11 record. They missed the playoffs. While the rest of the AFC North—well, mostly the Steelers and Ravens—prep for the grind of the postseason, the Who Dey nation is officially in "wait until next year" mode.
It’s a tough pill to swallow. Especially when you consider that early in the season, after those wins against Cleveland and Jacksonville, it looked like maybe, just maybe, the defense had turned a corner. It hadn't.
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The 2025 Season That Was (And Why It’s Over)
The Bengals basically hit a wall midway through October and never quite found their footing again. If you're wondering why they aren't playing right now, look no further than the "Killer B's" stretch in December. They had to face the Ravens, the Bills, and the Ravens again in a three-week span. They went 0-3 in that stretch.
That 24-0 shutout against Baltimore on December 14 was the nail in the coffin.
Honestly, the defense was the real story here, and not a good one. They ranked 32nd in most statistical categories. You can’t ask Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase to put up 40 points every single week just to stay competitive. Chase did his part, though. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors again, which is probably the only thing keeping fans sane right now.
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Why the Schedule Failed Them
- The Slow Start: We’ve seen this movie before. They went 2-5 in September/October. By the time November rolled around, they were playing catch-up in a division that doesn't forgive mistakes.
- The "Gauntlet": Facing Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson back-to-back while having the league's worst-ranked scoring defense is a recipe for disaster.
- The Injury Bug: While Burrow stayed mostly healthy this year, the depth on the defensive line just wasn't there.
When Are the Bengals Playing Next?
Since the 2025-26 postseason is out of the question, your next chance to see them in a meaningful game won't be until September 2026. The NFL usually releases the specific dates and times in mid-May, but we actually already know who they are playing.
Because they finished third in the AFC North, the 2026 schedule is locked in based on the NFL’s rotation formula. They’ll be playing the AFC South and the NFC South this coming year.
2026 Home Opponents (Paycor Stadium)
- Baltimore Ravens (Division Rivalry)
- Cleveland Browns (The Battle of Ohio)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (The game everyone circles)
- Kansas City Chiefs (The rivalry lives on)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (Trevor Lawrence comes to town)
- Tennessee Titans (A physical matchup)
- New Orleans Saints (NFC South rotation)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Baker Mayfield back in Cincy?)
2026 Road Opponents
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Indianapolis Colts
- Houston Texans (Stroud vs. Burrow is going to be electric)
- Miami Dolphins (A rematch of this year's 45-21 win)
- Washington Commanders (The 17th game matchup)
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
The highlight of that road list has to be the Houston Texans. C.J. Stroud has turned that team into a powerhouse, and seeing him go toe-to-toe with a healthy Burrow is probably going to be a primetime lock. Also, the 17th game this year is against the Washington Commanders because of how the cross-conference standings shook out.
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What to Do While You Wait for Kickoff
If you're still craving Bengals content even though they aren't on the field, there's plenty of offseason drama to keep you occupied. The NFL Draft is the big one. With a 6-11 record, the Bengals are sitting on a high draft pick. Most experts, like those over at The Athletic or Pro Football Focus, are screaming for the front office to draft defensive line help or a franchise-caliber tackle.
You can also keep an eye on "Bengals Weekly." It still airs locally on WXIX (FOX19) in Cincinnati and various affiliates in Columbus, Dayton, and Louisville. They usually transition into draft previews and free agency talk once the Super Bowl wraps up.
Basically, the 2026 season starts now for the front office. Duke Tobin and Zac Taylor have a lot of soul-searching to do. How do you fix a defense that gave up nearly 40 points to the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets in the same season? You can't win in the AFC North playing like that.
Actionable Next Steps for Bengals Fans
The season is over, but the work isn't. Here is how you can stay prepared for when the 2026 schedule finally drops:
- Download the Bengals App: This is where the official schedule will leak first in May 2026.
- Watch the Senior Bowl: (Late January/Early February). This is where the Bengals' scouting department will be looking for that much-needed defensive help.
- Review the Salary Cap: Keep an eye on Over The Cap. The Bengals have some decisions to make regarding free agents if they want to build a defense that can actually stop a nosebleed.
- Check Ticketmaster in May: As soon as the NFL schedule is released, single-game tickets for the 2026 season will go on sale. With the Chiefs and Jaguars coming to Paycor, those home games will sell out fast.
While it hurts to watch the playoffs from the couch, the 2026 opponents list looks promising. A third-place schedule means they avoid some of the absolute monsters in the conference, which might be exactly what Burrow needs to lead this team back to a deep January run next year.