Three Thoughts on the Bengals' 2022 Regular Season Schedule

Cincinnati opens the season at home against Pittsburgh.

Author:
James Rapien
Publish date:
May 12, 2022 8:25 PM EDT

In this story:

CINCINNATI — The Bengals' schedule for the 2022 regular season was released on Thursday night. Cincinnati starts the year at home against Pittsburgh. Here are three thoughts on the schedule, which includes five primetime games.

Tale of Two Halves

Ja'Marr Chase — © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Bengals may have the third-toughest schedule this season, but the first half of the season doesn't look nearly as daunting as the second half.

Their first nine opponents had a combined record of 71-81-1 last season. Only two of them (Pittsburgh and Dallas) made the playoffs.

The second half of the season is much more challenging. Six of the eight teams they play qualified for the postseason and the only two that didn't (Ravens and Browns) finished 8-9. Their final eight opponents posted an 83-52-1 record last season.

If Cincinnati is going to make another Super Bowl run, they need to get off to a hit start and handle business early in the season.

Hardest Stretch

Joe Burrow, Tom Brady1 — USA Today Images

The most challenging part of the Bengals' schedule has to be Weeks 13-18. They play the Chiefs and Browns at home, before hitting the road to play Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay. They travel to New England to take on the Patriots and finish the season with home games against the Bills and Ravens.

Cincinnati should certainly have their eyes on the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They'll need to win four of six during this stretch to have a real chance at getting the top seed in the conference.

AFC North Lights

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) breaks away for a long carry in the first quarter of the NFL Week 16 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. The Bengals led 31-14 at halftime. Baltimore Ravens At Cincinnati Bengals Week 16 — © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Bengals must be the most interesting team in the AFC North. The division is loaded with talent, but three of Cincinnati's five primetime games are against AFC North opponents—and they're all on the road.

They play the Ravens in Baltimore in Week 5. They travel to Cleveland to play the Browns on Monday Night Football and they play in Pittsburgh in Week 11 following their bye.

If Cincinnati is going to win their division for a second consecutive season, then they're going to do it in front of a national audience.

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