The full 2024 Cincinnati Bengals schedule has been unveiled and the wait for kickoff is officially under way.While the opponents are known for months - since the NFL has a fixed, rotated scheduling grid - knowing the order and time of how the season will play out sheds new light on what to look forward to and allows fans to being forming educated guesses on how the season could go.Now that we know the order for the Bengals quest to return to the playoffs, here are five initial thoughts on the schedule, how it could benefit the Bengals compared to schedules of seasons past and some things noticed about what the schedule does, or doesn't, do for Cincinnati.Great chance to get off to fast start The Bengals have, somewhat infamously, gotten off to slow starts under Zac Taylor and have gotten off to 0-2 starts in each of the last two seasons. In 2024, the Bengals have a perfect storm brewing to win their first season opener since 2021.Not only are all signs pointing to Joe Burrow being on track to fully recover from his wrist surgery last season, but three of the Bengals first four games of the season come against teams who picked (or should have picked) in the top three of this year's NFL Draft.Two of those teams - New England and Washington - will most likely be breaking in rookie quarterbacks and have a new head coach at the helm. Carolina, the Bengals' Week 4 opponent, will be in year two of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and they also are in the first year of a new head coach.If the Bengals were hoping for as nice an "ease in" into the season as possible, they basically got it.But, if they have another slow start, it may not doom them the way it did last year, because...Divisional BacklogLast year, the first two games for the Bengals came against AFC North competition (they lost both matchups) and they had played four division games by Week 12, going 0-4 and putting them on the backfoot in the home stretch of the season.This year, the Bengals don't play their first division game until Week 5 and play just three division games before their bye week. After the bye, starting in Week 13, half of their games will be division games, including two of their last three and the season finale, meaning if the Bengals do struggle out of the gate, they won't be in nearly as dire straights, with the chance to take care of division opponents to keep pace in a potential division title race.Back Under the Bright LightsCincinnati will be showcased in the national spotlight five times this year (with four of those games subject to be moved due to the NFL's flex-scheduling abilities): Once on Sunday Night Football and twice on both Thursday Night and Monday Night Football.The Bengals could also be in their own timeslot in a Week 17 or 18 Saturday game (as was the case when they hosted Minnesota last year) and have a preseason game on Amazon Prime (August 22 vs. Indianapolis). However, while the Bengals are in the upper echelon of national TV appearances...No Marquee GamesThat's not to say the Bengals have zero marquee matchups - games against the Chiefs and all six division games should be grand. But the NFL schedule has more stand-alone timeslots than ever before, with international games and holidays, and the Bengals are not involved in any of them.For better or worse, the Bengals will not play overseas (their only opportunity to do so this year would have been against Carolina in Germany) and are not involved in the Thanksgiving (where they could have played Dallas) or Christmas Day games.Hello, Old FriendNot every week will be a revenge game, but there are reunions littered throughout the Bengals schedule, both for players suiting up in stripes and those on the opposing sideline.New Bengals offensive lineman Trent Brown and tight end Mike Gesicki will open the season against their former team, the New England Patriots, Geno Stone will play his old Ravens teammates twice and while it's a reunion in the secondary in Cincinnati for Vonn Bell, he'll be returning to Carolina in Week 4, where he spent last season.Playing against Cincinnati this year are former Bengals Nick Scott (Carolina), Irv Smith Jr. (Kansas City) and the family reunion in Nashville, when former offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, wide receiver Tyler Boyd and cornerback Chidobe Awuize will suit up for the Titans in Week 15.
CINCINNATI —
The full 2024 Cincinnati Bengals schedule has been unveiled and the wait for kickoff is officially under way.
While the opponents are known for months - since the NFL has a fixed, rotated scheduling grid - knowing the order and time of how the season will play out sheds new light on what to look forward to and allows fans to being forming educated guesses on how the season could go.
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Now that we know the order for the Bengals quest to return to the playoffs, here are five initial thoughts on the schedule, how it could benefit the Bengals compared to schedules of seasons past and some things noticed about what the schedule does, or doesn't, do for Cincinnati.
Great chance to get off to fast start
The Bengals have, somewhat infamously, gotten off to slow starts under Zac Taylor and have gotten off to 0-2 starts in each of the last two seasons. In 2024, the Bengals have a perfect storm brewing to win their first season opener since 2021.
Not only are all signs pointing to Joe Burrow being on track to fully recover from his wrist surgery last season, but three of the Bengals first four games of the season come against teams who picked (or should have picked) in the top three of this year's NFL Draft.
Two of those teams - New England and Washington - will most likely be breaking in rookie quarterbacks and have a new head coach at the helm. Carolina, the Bengals' Week 4 opponent, will be in year two of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and they also are in the first year of a new head coach.
If the Bengals were hoping for as nice an "ease in" into the season as possible, they basically got it.
But, if they have another slow start, it may not doom them the way it did last year, because...
Divisional Backlog
Last year, the first two games for the Bengals came against AFC North competition (they lost both matchups) and they had played four division games by Week 12, going 0-4 and putting them on the backfoot in the home stretch of the season.
This year, the Bengals don't play their first division game until Week 5 and play just three division games before their bye week.
After the bye, starting in Week 13, half of their games will be division games, including two of their last three and the season finale, meaning if the Bengals do struggle out of the gate, they won't be in nearly as dire straights, with the chance to take care of division opponents to keep pace in a potential division title race.
Queen City connections: These 2024 Bengals' opponents have ties to Cincinnati
Back Under the Bright Lights
Cincinnati will be showcased in the national spotlight five times this year (with four of those games subject to be moved due to the NFL's flex-scheduling abilities): Once on Sunday Night Football and twice on both Thursday Night and Monday Night Football.
The Bengals could also be in their own timeslot in a Week 17 or 18 Saturday game (as was the case when they hosted Minnesota last year) and have a preseason game on Amazon Prime (August 22 vs. Indianapolis).
However, while the Bengals are in the upper echelon of national TV appearances...
No Marquee Games
That's not to say the Bengals have zero marquee matchups - games against the Chiefs and all six division games should be grand. But the NFL schedule has more stand-alone timeslots than ever before, with international games and holidays, and the Bengals are not involved in any of them.
For better or worse, the Bengals will not play overseas (their only opportunity to do so this year would have been against Carolina in Germany) and are not involved in the Thanksgiving (where they could have played Dallas) or Christmas Day games.
'Going Down Hill': How Bengals' opponents announced their matchup in schedule release
Hello, Old Friend
Not every week will be a revenge game, but there are reunions littered throughout the Bengals schedule, both for players suiting up in stripes and those on the opposing sideline.
New Bengals offensive lineman Trent Brown and tight end Mike Gesicki will open the season against their former team, the New England Patriots, Geno Stone will play his old Ravens teammates twice and while it's a reunion in the secondary in Cincinnati for Vonn Bell, he'll be returning to Carolina in Week 4, where he spent last season.
Playing against Cincinnati this year are former Bengals Nick Scott (Carolina), Irv Smith Jr. (Kansas City) and the family reunion in Nashville, when former offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, wide receiver Tyler Boyd and cornerback Chidobe Awuize will suit up for the Titans in Week 15.
