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The Cincinnati Bengals received a brutal projection after the NFL's schedule release

With the NFL 2026 schedule recently released, the Cincinnati Bengals can begin looking ahead at their road to the postseason. 

The Bengals, who have missed the postseason in three straight seasons, made massive efforts this offseason as the front office aggressively addressed the issues that led the team to a 6-11 record in 2025.

Despite these efforts, a new prediction suggests the Bengals will not fare much better than they have in recent seasons.

Cincinnati Bengals Predicted to Miss Postseason

Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame predicted every AFC team’s record after the NFL’s schedule release. Unfortunately, Verderame does not appear to have much faith in the Bengals “all-in” approach to 2026 as he predicted the team would go 9-8, which would be third in the AFC North.

Verderame wrote:

“Can Joe Burrow stay healthy, and can the defense stop anybody? Over the past three years, all of which ended shy of the playoffs, the answer has primarily been no. Burrow has played in 35 of a possible 51 games, and the defense has ranked 31st, 25th and 31st, respectively. If the defense is improved enough after adding nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II, safety Bryan Cook and edge rusher Boye Mafe, and Burrow can play 17 games, look out. Cincinnati has a soft end to its schedule, with six of its final seven opponents missing the playoffs last year.”

If the Bengals miss the postseason for a fourth consecutive season, despite landing major defensive pieces this offseason, it would likely lead to dramatic changes on the team. In 2025, Cincinnati’s coaching staff was able to use injuries as a reason for the team underperforming; however, after this year’s infusion of talent, finishing behind the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers would be a disaster for the Bengals.

Verderame, perhaps surprisingly, predicted the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers to make the postseason once again, despite their quarterback situation still being in flux. Regarding the Steelers, Verderame said they had, “Pittsburgh has the best overall roster in this group.”

Cincinnati Bengals Schedule

Unlike last season, the talk around head coach Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow heading into Week 1 will likely not be about the team’s slow starts. Despite what turned out to be a massively disappointing 2025 season, the Bengals did get off to a rare 2-0 start, which unfortunately also included Joe Burrow’s injury that cost him most of the season.

This season, the Bengals will hope to earn similar on-field results to begin their season while avoiding major injuries. Cincinnati will begin their season at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Regarding the Bengals’ Week 1 matchup, Bengals On SI’s Jay Morrison wrote:

“This will mark the third time during Zac Taylor’s tenure the Bengals have opened against an NFC opponent but just the 10th time in franchise history.

The Bengals faced the Vikings at home in the 2021 opener and played at Seattle in Taylor’s debut game in 2019.

This will be the second time the Bengals have opened against the Buccaneers. The first was in 1980 in Forrest Gregg’s debut game as head coach, which Cincinnati lost at home 17-12.

Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield is 3-1 with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in four career starts at Paycor Stadium.”