Joe Burrow’s ascent has turned the historically mediocre Cincinnati Bengals into an annual championship contender. After easily winning their division last season, they should be hit with a more challenging schedule this year. But is the Bengals’ schedule as difficult as it should be?
Cincinnati Bengals Schedule and Opponents
While we won’t find out the Bengals’ schedule for 2023 until the official NFL release later this year, we already know their opponents for the upcoming season.
Home Games
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Cleveland Browns
- Indianapolis Colts
- Houston Texans
- Los Angeles Rams
- Minnesota Vikings
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Seattle Seahawks
Away Games
- Arizona Cardinals
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- San Francisco 49ers
- Tennessee Titans
As always, the Bengals will face their division opponents both at home and on the road. As part of the rotational schedule, the Bengals and the AFC North will take on the entirety of the AFC South and NFC West.
The remaining three games on their schedule will come against the remaining two AFC teams that won their division, as well as their “17th game crossover” against the Minnesota Vikings, who won the NFC North in 2022.
Cincinnati Bengals Strength of Schedule
In theory, the first-place Bengals should be hit with quite the difficult schedule in 2023. Instead, based on projected win totals, they have the 19th-toughest schedule, easier than both the Ravens and the Steelers. Their opponents have a combined average projected win total of 8.62.
Cincinnati Bengals Record Prediction
Coinciding with Burrow’s 2021 breakout, the Bengals have won their division and at least 10 games in each of the past two seasons. It’s been a welcome sight for Bengals fans after five consecutive years under .500. By all accounts, the Bengals should hit double-digit wins and be back in the playoffs again this season.
As we know all too well, anything can happen in the NFL. With that said, there are only four games on the Bengals’ schedule that look like guaranteed wins. Since the Bengals are good enough to beat anyone, the rest of their games could reasonably go either way.
The NFC West is one of the more challenging divisions to face. But the AFC South is one of the weakest divisions in football.
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The Bengals’ current Vegas win total is set at 11.5, with the under slightly juiced. It would be stunning if the Bengals didn’t reach at least 10 wins. That should be considered their floor.
With one of the best offenses in football, the ceiling for the Bengals is 13-14 wins. They are more than capable of putting together a truly superb season like that. But given the nature of the NFL, teams are bound to lose a couple of games they shouldn’t. Given their schedule, it’s reasonable to expect the Bengals to win 11-12 games this season.
