Tag: Bengals schedule

Are Bengals headed for an international game in 2025?

Will the Bengals head to Spain in 2025?

Last March, the Cincinnati Bengals admitted they were bracing for an international game as soon as 2025.

Turns out that thinking might just be correct.

The NFL just announced the Miami Dolphins will play a “home” game in Madrid, Spain next season

Cincinnati is scheduled to visit the Dolphins on the 2025 schedule and would seem to have a pretty good chance of being selected. They have the sixth-longest drought in the NFL without an international game (2019) and the annual overseas games tend to favor conference showdowns.

That, and the Bengals are just an attractive team to get in any sort of spotlight right now, be it national or even international.

Last year, the Bengals were candidates to play in Munich, Germany, against the Carolina Panthers and were also prepared for a possible overseas game in 2025 and 2027.

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NFL offseason schedule for 2025, important dates for Bengals fans to know

The key offseason dates for Bengals fans to know.

The regular season isn’t over yet and there’s still a postseason to potentially run through for the Cincinnati Bengals, if they can sneak their way in this weekend. But eventually, the season will come to an end and teams will begin focusing on the 2025 season. Thursday saw that path unveiled as the NFL revealed key dates during the offseason. Let’s take a look at some of those dates.

January 6:

  • Clubs may begin signing free agent players for the 2025 season, including players from the CFL.
  • Earliest permissible date for clubs to renegotiate or extend the rookie contract of a drafted rookie who was selected in any round of the 2022 NFL Draft or any undrafted rookie who signed in 2023. Any permissible renegotiated or extended player contract will not be considered a rookie contract and will not be subject to the rules that limit rookie contracts.
  • Clubs may exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

January 15:

  • Deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for Special Eligibility.

January 30:

  • East-West Shrine Bowl, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas.

February 1:

  • Senior Bowl, Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Alabama.

February 18:

  • Beginning this date through 4:00 p.m., New York time on March 4, clubs may designate Franchise or Transition Players.

February 24-March 3:

  • NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.

March 4:

  • Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 10-12:

  • During the period beginning at 12:00 noon, New York time, on March 10 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 12, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their 2024 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 12.
  • During the above two-day negotiating period, a prospective UFA who is not represented by an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor (“unrepresented player”) is permitted to communicate directly with a new club’s front office officials (excluding the head coach and other members of the club’s coaching staff) regarding contract negotiations. The club is responsible for confirming the player’s status as an unrepresented player.
  • No prospective unrestricted free agent is permitted to execute a contract with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 12.

March 12:

  • The 2025 League Year and free agency signing period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
  • Trading period for 2025 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2024 contracts.
  • The first day of the 2025 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 12. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 12.

March 30-April 2:

  • Annual League Meeting, Palm Beach, Florida.

April 7:

  • Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2024 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.

April 16:

  • Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at its club facility.

April 18:

  • Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 21:

  • Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.

April 23:

  • Deadline for prior club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents who signed offer sheets.
  • Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls) or conduct a physical examination with a draft-eligible player at any location.

April 24-26:

  • NFL Draft, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

May 1:

  • Deadline for clubs to exercise Fifth-Year Option for players selected in the first round of the 2022 Draft.

May 2-5 or May 9-12:

  • Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday on one of the two weekends following the Draft.

May 12:

  • Rookie Football Development Programs begin.

May 14-18:

  • NFLPA Rookie Premiere, Los Angeles, California.

May 20-21:

  • Spring League Meeting/Coach Accelerator, Minneapolis, Minnesota

June 1:

  • Deadline for prior club to send “June 1 Tender” to its unsigned restricted free agents who received a qualifying offer for a right of first refusal only in order for such player to be subject to the CBA’s “June 15 Tender” provision.

June 15:

  • Deadline for club to withdraw higher qualifying offer to restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting lower “June 15 Tender” of one-year contract at 110 percent of the player’s prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior-year contract carried forward unchanged).

Late June:

  • Rookie Readiness Program to be held at individual clubs.

July 15:

  • At 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his prior club for the 2025 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.

Mid-July:

  • Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies (defined as a player who has never signed an NFL player contract with a club in a prior league year) beginning seven days prior to the club’s mandatory reporting date for veteran players. A club’s preseason training camp will be deemed to have officially opened on the designated reporting date for all rookies.
  • Clubs may require first-year players (defined as a player who signed a player contract with any NFL club in a prior league year, but who does not have a pension-credited season) to report on the designated reporting date for all rookies, or at any time thereafter, including, but not limited to, the designated reporting date for veteran quarterbacks and injured players, or the designated reporting date for all other veteran players.
  • Veteran quarterbacks and “injured players” (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may be required to report to the club’s preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies.

July 21:

  • At 4:00 p.m., New York time, signing period ends for Transition Players with outstanding tenders. After this date and until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
  • At 4:00 p.m., New York time, on July 21 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp [July 16 in 2025], whichever is later) signing period ends for unrestricted free agents to whom a “UFA Tender” was made by prior club. After this date and until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.

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Bengals 2025 opponents set after Lions defeat 49ers Monday night

The 2025 list of opponents for the Bengals got finalized on Monday night.

The Cincinnati Bengals still have hopes of reaching the playoffs for the 2024 season, but they now know their path to the 2025 postseason as well.

Thanks to the Lions defeating the 49ers on “Monday Night Football,” the Bengals’ schedule of opponents for the 2025 season is officially locked in. Why was Monday’s game the final piece of the puzzle? It’s because the Bengals are scheduled to host the same-place finisher in the NFC West as their “17th game” next season. The Bengals are assured of finishing in third place in the AFC North, so it was a matter of who finished third in the NFC West, AFC South and AFC West — the Bengals will play every team in the AFC East and NFC North next season.

The Jaguars secured third place in the AFC South after completing the sweep of the Titans Sunday, setting up the Jaguars visiting the Bengals next season. The Broncos will finish third in the AFC West, so the Bengals will meet up with Sean Payton’s crew again next season but, this time, in the Mile High City.

With the 49ers losing Monday, they are assured of finishing in last place in the NFC West. Had they won, they could have still finished in third. With the loss, they are a game behind the Arizona Cardinals and Arizona would hold the tiebreaker thanks to common opponents. Therefore, the Bengals will welcome Kyler Murray and friends to Cincinnati next season.

With that said, here is the full list of opponents for the Bengals for the 2025 season.

Home:

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • New England Patriots
  • New York Jets
  • Chicago Bears
  • Detroit Lions
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Arizona Cardinals

Away:

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Miami Dolphins
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • Denver Broncos

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Bengals are NFL’s big primetime attraction — but it’s getting a little unfair

The Bengals head to primetime again…in a way no team ever has.

The Cincinnati Bengals being a big enough national attraction and good enough to qualify for multiple primetime games a year on the biggest stages has to be a bittersweet feeling for fans.

On one hand, it’s something most of the fanbase has never experienced before. It’ll happen again in the season finale, as the NFL flexed Cincinnati’s Week 18 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers laced with playoff implications into the Saturday night slot.

But on the other, it puts Joe Burrow and the Bengals at a big disadvantage.

As Sports Illustrated’s Jay Morrison pointed out, the flex makes the Bengals the only team in NFL history to play five primetime road games in one season.

Why is this bad? The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. provided some staggering numbers:

 


Normally this might sound like nitpicking — but it’s pretty hard to ignore that 2-13 number. Zac Taylor has been horrendous against the AFC North, but in this case, the problem impacts everyone.

Alas, this is what the Bengals have to deal with to finish the season. If they win, plus the Dolphins and Broncos lose, they’ll sneak into the playoffs. In addition to everything else, it requires moving this particular record to 3-13.

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Could Bengals benefit from schedule flex if Steelers rest starters?

The NFL made a weird flex scheduling decision…and the Bengals could benefit.

The Cincinnati Bengals finish the season in primetime in Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers in an 8 pm. ET slot on a Saturday night.

Might the flexed schedule see the Steelers actually help the Bengals’ slim playoff chances?

It’s highly unlikely, but consider this scheduling quirk — the Cleveland Browns play the Baltimore Ravens in the other Saturday slot at 4:30 p.m. ET. If the Ravens win that game, the AFC North gets wrapped up.

Would the Steelers then rest starters against the Bengals?

Maybe not, as the Steelers could still win and get some help to secure the fifth seed in the playoffs, shifting around their preferred opening-round opponent. But it’s a little shocking the NFL took this risk for its big Saturday night primetime game, rather than run both games at the same time.

Regardless, the Bengals need to win, then get some help on Saturday. The Sunday slate will mean everything — or nothing — for Bengals fans. Cincinnati needs the Dolphins to lose to the Jets (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET) and the Broncos lose to the Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET).

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Bengals schedule: Do the Cincinnati Bengals play today?

Are the Cincinnati Bengals playing today? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come. 

Will the Cincinnati Bengals be on the field today in Week 17 of the NFL schedule?

The Bengals won’t be involved in Sunday action in Week 17, as the team played in one of the three special national games the day prior.

There, the Bengals won an overtime thriller over the Denver Broncos, moving the record to 8-8 on the season and keeping slim playoff hopes alive. There were key injuries, coaching gaffes from Zac Taylor and plenty of memorable moments.

Looking ahead, the Bengals need to win in Pittsburgh in Week 18 and get losses from the Colts, Dolphins and Broncos to make the playoffs.

 

Bengals 2024 schedule

  • Week 1: vs. New England (L, 16-10)
  • Week 2: at Kansas City (L, 26-25)
  • Week 3: vs. Washington (L, 38-33)
  • Week 4: at Carolina (W, 34-24)
  • Week 5: vs. Baltimore (L, 41-38 OT)
  • Week 6: at New York Giants (W, 17-7)
  • Week 7: at Cleveland (W, 21-14)
  • Week 8: vs. Philadelphia (L, 37-17)
  • Week 9: vs. Las Vegas (W, 41-24)
  • Week 10: at Baltimore (L, 35-34)
  • Week 11: at Los Angeles Chargers (L, 34-27)
  • Week 12: BYE
  • Week 13: vs. Pittsburgh (L, 44-38)
  • Week 14: at Dallas (W, 27-20)
  • Week 15: at Tennessee (W, 37-27)
  • Week 16: at Cleveland (W, 24-6)
  • Week 17: vs. Denver (W, 30-24)
  • Week 18: at Pittsburgh
  • Record: 8-8

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A look at Bengals’ easiest path to playoffs

Here’s how the Bengals can still reach the playoffs.

The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t done yet. Cincinnati has very slim playoff odds — ESPN’s Football Power Index gives them just a 5.1% chance — but they’re still above zero.

But how exactly can the Bengals make the playoffs? The easiest scenario was laid out by NFL Playoff Scenarios. That scenario is as follows:

1. The Bengals must win out. This one seems pretty obvious. The Bengals have to get to 9-8. Not only are two of the Wild Cards already at nine wins, the third (Chargers) is at 8-6 and has the head-to-head tiebreaker on the Bengals, so Cincinnati has to get ahead of Los Angeles. We’ll dive more into that shortly.

2. The loser of Thursday’s Broncos-Chargers game has to then lose their last two games. As mentioned before, the Bengals have to get above the Chargers because of the Week 11 loss. So if the Chargers lose Thursday, they then would have to lose their last two games. Unfortunately for the Bengals, L.A.’s last two games are against the 3-11 New England Patriots and the 2-12 Las Vegas Raiders. Probably not happening.

The Broncos, however, are a different story and much more realistic. If Denver loses Thursday, the Bengals would need the Broncos to then also lose their last two games. The first of those two games just so happens to be against the Bengals, meaning the Bengals can play themselves into a playoff-clinching scenario in Week 18 against the Steelers by taking care of business against their biggest obstacle.

The Broncos then finish the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bengals would have to hope the Chiefs are still needing to play for the No. 1 seed, otherwise they may rest starters and that would be bad news for the Bengals. But if the Bengals catch the Broncos at nine wins, they would beat out Denver for the final spot…if one more scenario also plays out.

3. The Colts and Dolphins each have to lose one of their final three games. If the Bengals and Broncos are tied at 9-8 or if the Bengals are the only 9-8 team among the teams we’ve listed, they make the playoffs. We’ve already touched on the Chargers and why the Bengals would need them to finish 8-9 to beat them. So why are the Colts and Dolphins relevant here?

The reason is that the Bengals lose tiebreakers to both the Colts and the Dolphins. The Bengals are 3-6 in conference games, an inferior record to both the Colts and Dolphins, both 5-5. The Bengals didn’t play either team, so it next goes to conference record. If either or both teams also get to 9-8, they’d be 7-5 in conference while the Bengals would be 6-6. That knocks the Bengals out.

So, for example, if the Bengals, Broncos and Colts all get to 9-8, the Bengals would be out due to their inferior conference record. Same if we swap the Colts for the Dolphins. So this is why the Bengals need those two to lose once to get them out of the way.

The Colts finish the season against the Titans at home, Giants on the road and the Jaguars at home. Miami has the the 49ers home, then they visit the Browns and Jets.

Just for fun, since the odds are severely against it, if all the Wild Card contenders finish 9-8, it would be the Colts, Dolphins and Ravens getting in while the Chargers, Bengals and Broncos would be left out.

Division tiebreaks eliminate the Bengals (swept by the Ravens) and the Broncos (swept by Chargers in this scenario). Then, between the Colts, Dolphins, Ravens and Chargers, the Ravens and Chargers drop out on conference record (IND 7-5, MIA 7-5, BAL 5-7, LAC 6-6). The Colts beat the Dolphins head-to-head which would give them the No. 5 seed.

Repeat the process to fill in the rest of the spots. Miami would win the three-way tie over the Ravens and Chargers on conference record for the No. 6 seed and then the Ravens would get the No. 7 seed via their Week 12 win over the Chargers (division tiebreaks eliminate the Bengals and Broncos in both cases).

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NFL takes a big gamble with Bengals schedule flex

The NFL picks the Bengals.

The Cincinnati Bengals need to win out and get some major help from other teams to make the NFL playoffs.

It seems the NFL, at least, has some confidence the Bengals will overcome the Cleveland Browns in Week 16 to make the week after have some meaning.

Tuesday, the NFL announced that the Bengals’ Week 17 game against the Denver Broncos would be one of the three games selected for a Saturday national slot.

That game is now set for a 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff and could feature huge playoff implications for both teams.

Those Bengals must first beat the Browns in Week 16 to avoid elimination. Following that up with a win over the Broncos is part of the team’s complicated path to the playoffs.

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Bengals schedule: Do the Cincinnati Bengals play today?

Are the Cincinnati Bengals playing today? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come. 

Will the Cincinnati Bengals be on the field today in Week 14 of the NFL schedule?

Following a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13, the Bengals aren’t part of the Week 14 Sunday slate.

Instead, the Bengals are on the special Simpsons broadcast of Monday Night Football, where they will visit the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams are well under .500, but the game was unable to be flexed out of the primetime slot due to the nature of the work that went into the special broadcast.

The Bengals would like to win out in order to hopefully remain alive in the playoff race, but Joe Burrow and Co. haven’t won a game since November 3.

Bengals 2024 schedule

  • Sept. 8: vs.  New England (L, 16-10)
  • Sept. 15: at Kansas City (L, 26-25)
  • Mon. Sep 23: vs. Washington (L, 38-33)
  • Sept. 29: at Carolina (W, 34-24)
  • Oct. 6: vs. Baltimore (L, 41-38OT)
  • Oct. 13: at NYG (W, 17-7)
  • Oct. 20: at Cleveland (W, 21-14)
  • Oct. 27: vs. Philadelphia (L, 37-17)
  • Nov. 3: vs. Las Vegas (W, 41-24)
  • Nov. 7: at Baltimore (L, 35-34)
  • Nov. 17: at LA Chargers (L, 34-27)
  • Nov. 24: BYE
  • Dec. 1: vs. Pittsburgh (L, 44-38)
  • Record: 4-8

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Bengals schedule: Do the Cincinnati Bengals play today?

Are the Cincinnati Bengals playing today? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come. 

Will the Cincinnati Bengals be on the field today in Week 12 of the NFL schedule?

Following a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11, the Bengals are on a bye week and will return to the field on December 1 for a homestand against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Those Steelers are now 8-3 and just lost on the Thursday primetime game in Week 12 to the Cleveland Browns, 24-19. The Bengals benefit, but only slightly, and can at least pull a little closer in the AFC North if they can come out of the bye strong and take down the top team in the division.

Bengals 2024 schedule

  • Sept. 8: vs.  New England (L, 16-10)
  • Sept. 15: at Kansas City (L, 26-25)
  • Mon. Sep 23: vs. Washington (L, 38-33)
  • Sept. 29: at Carolina (W, 34-24)
  • Oct. 6: vs. Baltimore (L, 41-38OT)
  • Oct. 13: at NYG (W, 17-7)
  • Oct. 20: at Cleveland (W, 21-14)
  • Oct. 27: vs. Philadelphia (L, 37-17)
  • Nov. 3: vs. Las Vegas (W, 41-24)
  • Nov. 7: at Baltimore (L, 35-34)
  • Nov. 17: at LA Chargers (L, 34-27)
  • Nov. 24: BYE
  • Record: 4-7