So, you’re looking to see who Cincinnati Bengals play today, Friday, January 16, 2026. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you're checking the TV guide for a kickoff time, you can probably put the remote down.
The Bengals aren't playing today. In fact, they aren't playing this weekend at all.
While the rest of the NFL is gearing up for a massive Divisional Round playoff slate—featuring the Denver Broncos hosting the Buffalo Bills and the Chicago Bears taking on the Rams—Cincinnati is already in full "offseason mode." After a bumpy 6-11 campaign that wrapped up with a loss to the Cleveland Browns on January 4th, the Bengals are watching the postseason from the couch for the third straight year.
It's a tough pill for fans to swallow, especially given the talent on this roster.
Where did the 2025-26 season go wrong?
Basically, it was a year defined by what-ifs. Joe Burrow was back, but the defense was, frankly, a sieve for most of the season. They finished near the bottom of the league in rushing attempts, which meant Burrow was dropping back and taking hits way more than anyone in the front office wanted to see.
When you look at who Cincinnati Bengals play today in the context of the league's elite, they just weren't in that conversation this January. The AFC North was a gauntlet. The Steelers actually won the division this year with Aaron Rodgers under center (yeah, that actually happened), and the Ravens were right there until a Week 18 collapse.
Cincinnati finished third in the division. While that’s better than the 5-12 Browns, it wasn't enough to sniff a Wild Card spot. Mike Brown has already come out and said Zac Taylor and Duke Tobin are staying put, but there’s a lot of pressure to fix the run game and the pass rush before next September.
Who Cincinnati Bengals play today: The 2026 Opponents
Since there's no live game to yell at today, let’s look at who they’ll actually be facing when the 2026 season kicks off. The NFL’s rotating schedule formula means we already know the home and away matchups, even if we don't have the exact dates yet.
Home Games at Paycor Stadium:
- The usual suspects: Ravens, Browns, Steelers.
- The Heavyweights: Kansas City Chiefs. This is the one everyone is circling. Since the Bengals finished third in their division and the Chiefs finished third in the AFC West (Mahomes’ injury really tanked their year), we get another installment of this rivalry in the Queen City.
- The NFC South invasion: New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- The AFC South pair: Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.
Road Trips for the Jungle:
- Division rivals: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh.
- The Texas Swing: Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts.
- The Sunshine State: A trip to Miami to face the Dolphins.
- NFC South visits: Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.
- The 17th Game: A road game against the Washington Commanders.
What should fans do instead?
Honestly, today is a good day to start looking at the draft board. Because they finished with six wins, the Bengals are currently slated to pick 10th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Mock drafts are already flying around. Some experts have them looking at Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. to help that defensive line, while others think they need to finally invest in a franchise-caliber protector for Burrow's blind side.
The team has already been busy behind the scenes. Just this week, they re-signed Mitch Tinsley and a handful of other restricted free agents. They’re also looking at 13 players on "reserve/future" contracts—guys like quarterback Sean Clifford and tackle Andrew Coker—who are basically fighting for a spot on the 90-man training camp roster.
The road to September 2026
If you’re wondering who Cincinnati Bengals play today because you need your football fix, your best bet is to tune into the Divisional Round games tomorrow. Saturday, January 17th, starts with the Bills at the Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET. It’s a glimpse at the level the Bengals need to get back to if they want to be playing meaningful games in mid-January next year.
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The NFL Scouting Combine starts in late February in Indy, and Free Agency kicks off March 11th. That's when the real work happens. Until then, the Bengals are just another team waiting for the draft.
Keep an eye on the official schedule release this coming May. That is when we will finally find out if that Chiefs game is a Monday Night Football thriller or a standard Sunday 1 p.m. kickoff. For now, the "Who Dey" chants are on ice.
Actionable next steps for Bengals fans:
- Check the Draft Order: Keep tabs on the 2026 NFL Draft pick at #10 to see which defensive prospects are rising.
- Follow Free Agency: Watch the cap space situation starting in early March, specifically regarding the defensive line.
- Monitor Mahomes’ Recovery: Since the Chiefs come to Cincinnati in 2026, his rehab from that ACL/LCL tear will dictate how "marquee" that home opener really is.