Three Bold Predictions for the Bengals 2021 Schedule

The 17-game schedule will be revealed on Wednesday night.

Author:
James Rapien
Publish date:
May 12, 2021 8:31 AM EDT

CINCINNATI — The Bengals start the 2021 season against the Vikings at home.

The rest of the NFL schedule will be released on Wednesday night. The Bengals and the other 31 teams will play 17 games this season.

Here are three bold predictions for Cincinnati's schedule.

Primetime Games

The Bengals have only won six games over the past two seasons, but that isn't going to stop them from getting their fair share of the national spotlight. Look for Cincinnati to be featured in at least three primetime games in 2021.

Joe Burrow is a star. People want to see him play. Mix in Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Joe Mixon and there's no reason why the Bengals won't get the attention of a national audience.

Look for Cincinnati to have one Sunday night, one Monday night and one Thursday night matchup in 2021.

Battle of Ohio Relevant Again

The Browns might've swept the Bengals in 2020, but the Burrow vs. Baker (Mayfield) matchup delivered in both games. First, Cleveland took down Cincinnati 35-30 in Week 2 on Thursday Night Football. Then, the Browns beat the Bengals 37-34 in the closing seconds in Week 7.

The Battle of Ohio is relevant again for the first time in decades. Look for the NFL to put Baker Mayfield in primetime against Burrow for a second consecutive season. A Sunday or Monday night matchup at Paul Brown Stadium feels right.

Young Quarterbacks Early

Don't be shocked if the Bengals play the Jaguars and the Jets early in the 2021 season. Jacksonville and New York could be two of the worst teams in the NFL.

Matching up the 2021 No. 1 pick in Trevor Lawrence against Burrow, who was taken first in the 2020 NFL Draft has plenty of appeal.

The interest level drops if one or both teams are on the wrong side of .500. Rather than risking it, look for the NFL to schedule Bengals-Jaguars during the first half of the 2021 season.

The same could be said for the Jets, who took BYU quarterback Zach Wilson with the No. 2 pick in last month's draft.

Let Burrow face the young quarterbacks early in the season and then he can go up against Pat Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers and company later in the year.

Check out the complete list of the Bengals' opponents in 2021 below.

HOME: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers.

AWAY: Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets.

For the latest Bengals news and coverage, bookmark AllBengals and check out some of our other articles below.

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