Cincinnati Bengals’ Schedule 2024-2025: Dates, Times, TV Channels, Strength of Schedule, and More

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off a disappointing 2023 season that was defined by injuries to quarterback Joe Burrow and struggles in the AFC North that proved too much to surmount.

With Burrow back to full strength, the franchise is aiming to put the disappointment behind it and return to the success of the previous two years in 2024.

Let’s take a look at the Bengals’ schedule for the 2024 NFL season, where their strength of schedule (SOS) ranks, our record prediction, and preview the biggest Bengals’ matchups of the season.

Cincinnati Bengals’ Schedule and Opponents

The complete 2024 NFL schedule was released on May 15 at 8 p.m. ET, and we have it in the table below (which is best viewed in landscape mode).

Bengals’ Strength of Schedule

The Bengals face one of the NFL’s softer schedules in 2024, ranking as the fourth-easiest slate in PFN’s strength-of-schedule metric, with only the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers, and New Orleans Saints coming in with easier schedules.

Many of the Bengals’ non-divisional games are against teams that have struggled recently and look poised to continue doing so.

Cincinnati does face some tough tests, though, both within its division and in the form of road games against the Chiefs and Cowboys, alongside a home bout with the Eagles.

Those matchups could be crucial in determining where the Bengals finish, both within the division and the AFC as a whole.

Bengals Record Prediction: 11-6

Cincinnati’s 2024 win total is set at 10.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook, which is projecting a likely improvement from last year’s 9-8 showing. That certainly seems logical if Burrow is able to remain healthy for a full season, given the Bengals won 10 games with Burrow playing a full season in 2021 and 12 games in 2022.

Projecting at least one more win compared to 2023 feels fairly safe, barring injuries, given Cincinnati will face a significantly less challenging schedule from last year and aim to have its key core healthy for more of the campaign.

How well the offensive line comes together will be crucial in that regard, given its recent struggles. How well Trent Brown acclimates in place of Jonah Williams remains to be seen, but doing a better job of keeping Burrow out of harm’s way will certainly be paramount to whether the Bengals can rekindle their recent success.

Prime-Time Games

• Week 3: Commanders at Bengals (MNF)
• Week 6: Bengals at Giants (SNF)
• Week 10: Bengals at Ravens (TNF)
• Week 14: Bengals at Cowboys (MNF)
• Week 16: Browns at Bengals

The Bengals have five prime-time games this season, which is up from four prime-time games in 2023. Since Burrow is healthy and Cincinnati is expected to be a top contender once again, it makes sense that they’ll be on national television quite a bit.

When Is Cincinnati On Bye?

The Bengals’ bye week is in Week 12. Cincinnati will have two weeks to prepare for their Week 13 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Biggest Matchups of the Year

The loaded AFC North will present six crucial games for Cincinnati with no real easy wins, as even the Steelers have made some intriguing offseason additions that could make them a challenge.

The Bengals went just 1-5 in divisional games last year with a Week 18 win over the Browns their only victory, a mark that must be improved on in 2024.

KEEP READING: AFC Offseason Grades: Ranking All 16 Teams

Beyond those contests, a road matchup with the Chiefs in Week 2 could deliver some fireworks given the teams’ recent rivalry of sorts, while battles with NFC East squads Dallas and Philadelphia look to be two of the other more challenging non-divisional games.

Those contests will be key measuring sticks for whether Cincinnati truly returns to contention in 2024.

Check out PFN’s coverage of the NFL schedule release, including the full week-by-week schedule, a breakdown of how the NFL schedule is made, top revenge games of 2024, strength of schedule rankings, our ranking of this year’s international games, and more!