Cincinnati Bengals’ 2024 NFL Schedule: Release date, opponents, biggest games, and predictions

The Cincinnati Bengals’ offseason is in full swing now that the NFL Draft and free agency are out of the way. From this point on, it’s all about making the 90-man roster as good as it can be via OTAs, workouts, and training camp.

One key offseason aspect is hurling itself towards us over the coming weeks, as well, and that’s the NFL’s schedule release. We already know the Bengals’ 2024 opponents, but when and where they play the opposition is far more valuable then simply knowing who they play.

So, let’s not waste any more time and go over everything we currently know about the Bengals’ 2024 schedule, and more.

Bengals’ Schedule Release Date

The NFL teased during the draft that schedules will be released in May, although it didn’t give us an exact date. Based off the last couple of years, however, it should come out around the middle of May, as it was released on May 12 in 2022 and May 11 in 2023.

Once that comes out, we will update this with the Bengals’ exact schedule.

Home and Away Opponents

Games played at Paycor Stadium: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders

Away games: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans

Biggest Games on the Bengals’ 2024 Schedule

Every divisional game: The AFC North is the best division in football, hands down. Cincinnati going 1-5 against their rivals last year was the biggest reason behind finishing last in the division. Going above .500 in the division is a must.

Bengals at Chiefs: It’s a yearly tradition at this point. The Bengals will go back to Arrowhead Stadium to face Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champions. The NFL has liked having this game late in the season, so that’s when we should expect it to happen.

Bengals at Titans: After losing by 24 points to the Titans last year, the Bengals are going back down to Nashville for revenge. They’ll have to beat their former offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, the Titans’ new head coach, to get their getback.

Predicting Primetime Matchups and Week 1/Week 18 opponents

Which games will be primetime viewing?

Joe Burrow is always appointment viewing for football fans, and the Zac Taylor Bengals have been exciting under the lights. They always get a Thursday night game, so that’s a given, but I’d expect a couple more primetime slots to fill out the schedule.

Bengals-Chiefs is always a good prediction, though CBS has exclusively broadcasted that matchup since 2021. I predict another AFC West foe will see the Bengals in primetime. Give me Bengals-Chargers on ESPN’s Monday Night Football; two of the game’s best quarterbacks dueling it out in L.A. I’ll also throw in Bengals-Browns in Cincinnati for MNF as well.

The last time NBC showcased Bengals-Ravens, Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury. The time before that was during the 2023 playoffs in which Sam Hubbard’s iconic “Fumble in the Jungle” moment propelled the Bengals past the Ravens. I predict Cincinnati’s home game vs. Baltimore gets the Sunday Night Football treatment.

As for the Thursday Night Football matchup, it’s usually more unpredictable. Perhaps this will be that Bengals-Titans game. The short travel down to Nashville makes sense for such a short week of prep.

Who are the Week 1 and Week 18 opponents?

After back-to-back divisional matchups to start the last two seasons, I think the Bengals will play outside the AFC North in Week 1. I could see a road game that week, perhaps against the Giants or Cowboys. The NFL strategically schedules division rivals to finish the regular season, so I’m going to say the Steelers are the Week 18 opponent.

Strength of Schedule (based off Vegas win totals, not 2023 record)

Instead of ranking strength of schedule by last year’s records, Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis bases his rankings on Vegas’ projected win totals for the upcoming season. This methodology allows for a more accurate projection of how good teams are expected to be for the season.

At the time of this publication, Sharp hasn’t updated it to reflect Vegas’ updated, post-draft totals. Regardless, He has the Bengals’ SOS as the sixth-easiest. Only the Atlanta Falcons, Chargers, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and New Orleans Saints have easier schedules, as pictured below:

Revenge Games on the Bengals’ 2024 schedule

Brian Callahan, Chidobe Awuzie and the Titans: Callahan and Awuzie will play host to their former team in Tennessee. Callahan was the Bengals’ OC from 2019-23. Awuzie was a starting cornerback from 2021-22, and had a more rotational role in 2023.
Vonn Bell already has Bengals-Panthers circled: Bell was cut by the Panthers just one year after he left Cincinnati to sign with them. Needless to say, that game will be personal. Fellow safety Nick Scott is on the Panthers now after one year in Cincinnati, so it’s almost like the two just traded places.
Mike Gesicki, Trent Brown and the Patriots: Two of Cincy’s newest starters came from New England in free agency. Gesicki was only there for a year, but Brown played seasons for the Pats.
Geno Stone faces the Ravens twice: Baltimore players weren’t too happy with Stone leaving for a division rival, but the Ravens could’ve just re-signed Stone in the first place. Both sides will be looking to prove the other wrong.

5 Must-watch Matchups

Ja’Marr Chase vs. L’Jarius Sneed: These two do not like one another, but they are undoubtedly two of the best at their respective positions. Snead is now with the Titans, so the matchup will go beyond his previous stint with the Chiefs.
Trent Brown vs. T.J. Watt: Brown was brought in to be a quality right tackle while first-round pick Amarius Mims develops behind him. If Brown can contain Watt better than his predecessors, the Bengals will have an easier time taking down the Steelers in their two meetings.
Trey Hendrickson vs. Jordan Mailata: Hendrickson’s recent trade request won’t get him the outcome he wants, so he’ll be in stripes this season. One of his toughest matchups is the Eagles’ massive, athletic left tackle in Mailata.
Sheldon Rankins vs. Zack Martin: Rankins almost exclusively lined up against the right guard while he was with the Houston Texans, so it’s fair to assume most of his snaps in Cincinnati will reflect that. Martin is still one of the better right guards in the game as he enters his mid-30s.
Cam Taylor-Britt vs. CeeDee Lamb: 2024 is a huge year for Taylor-Britt to further establish himself as the Bengals’ top corner. Lamb has already ascended as one of the game’s best receivers and will be a tough playmaker for CTB to contain.