Breaking down the Bengals’ 2026 primetime video games

Coming off a 6-11 season, one of many key questions this offseason was what number of primetime video games the Cincinnati Bengals would get in 2026.

The reply to that’s three, with two of them coming at residence. And the most effective half is that they’re each towards AFC North opponents.

All three primetime video games are within the second half of the common season, and the Bengals get considered one of every on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday Night Football. Let’s have a look at all three primetime video games and what we’re most excited for about every considered one of them.

Week 10: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday Night Football)

I really like this recreation. A primetime recreation, on Sunday Night Football with Cris Collinsworth on the decision. We didn’t get to see a matchup between Joe Burrow and Aaron Rodgers in 2025. This yr, we’ll.

Pittsburgh is a mysterious group. Are they going to be simply adequate to be in rivalry via December?

Or, may they crater and be like a under .500 group for the primary time since 2003? They nonetheless have playmakers on each side of the ball, together with Rodgers. T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward aren’t any jokes, both.

The Steelers could have a brand new head coach in Mike McCarthy this season. He’s not new by any means. McCarthy is a Super Bowl-winning head coach, despite the fact that that was 16 years in the past.

This will probably be a bodily battle, particularly with the Bengals getting back from Madrid the week earlier than.

Week 11: @ Washington Commanders (Monday Night Football)

This is… eerry. If you keep in mind Week 11 of 2020, .

Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels each gained Heisman Trophies at LSU, and so they performed a shootout matchup on Monday Night Football in Week 3 of 2024. Now, we get this matchup in our nation’s capital three days earlier than Thanksgiving.

Washington flopped severely final yr, largely resulting from accidents. But head coach Dan Quinn didn’t make that an excuse or motive, altering each his offensive and defensive coordinators. The Commanders nailed their first spherical draft decide with Sonny Styles, an All-American at Ohio State.

If Jayden Daniels stays wholesome this season and the younger protection takes a step ahead, the Commanders have each motive to imagine they’ll get again to their 2024 magic.

Week 17: vs. Baltimore Ravens (Thursday Night Football on New Year’s Eve)

This is what we needed… after which some. Getting the Ravens at residence on Thursday Night Football is one factor. On New Year’s Eve? Pop the champagne!

Like the Steelers, the Ravens even have a brand new head coach. Jesse Minter is in his first head teaching job, coming over from the Chargers’ defensive coordinator place to affix a group led by Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, some good receivers, and playmakers on protection.

The Ravens went 8-9 final yr, lacking the Playoffs as a result of rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard discipline objective at Pittsburgh as time expired within the AFC North Championship in Week 18.

I can’t look ahead to this recreation. If each the Bengals and Ravens are good, fireworks will probably be anticipated.