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Cincinnati Bengals schedule 2022
Seven of the 14 teams Cincinnati will face in 2022 reached the playoffs in 2021, including the two teams that enter the year as the favorite to win the AFC in the Bills and Chiefs.
Bengals strength of schedule
Last year, the Bengals faced a slate of teams that finished with a .529 winning percentage the year prior, the sixth toughest schedule in the NFL. The road will only be tougher in 2022.
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It was never going to be easy for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022 regardless of what the official schedule release revealed.
Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Bengals picked apart the Steelers twice last year, including a 41-10 whipping. There’s no reason to think that changes with the Big Ben era finally, mercifully over. The Cincinnati defense isn’t going to have a hard time with either Mitchell Trubisky or rookie Kenny Pickett at home.
Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys
This is one of the trickier matchups on the schedule. Dak Prescott has flashes where he can hang with anyone. It’s also on the road, so coming off an AFC bout with the Steelers to open the season, this 50-50 matchup could be a loss.
Week 3: New York Jets
The Bengals catch another rebuilding team with a developing quarterback. The Jets should be much, much better soon (and sort of feel like a rising team similar to the Bengals), but Burrow vs. Zach Wilson goes to the home team.
Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are one of those weird teams that look like contenders for a stretch, then fade. It’s hard to say which version of the Dolphins the Bengals will encounter here. But what we do know? Burrow’s better than Tua Tagovailoa, even if Tyreek Hill comes to town, too.
Week 5: at Baltimore Ravens
Provided Lamar Jackson is healthy for the Ravens this year, it’s safe to chalk up the season series as a split. He alone has the potential to keep pace with Burrow in a shootout. After a coaching change, the Ravens should come out better defensively compared to last year, too.
Week 6: at New Orleans Saints
On one hand, Jameis Winston and/or Andy Dalton aren’t the scariest of quarterbacks. But traveling to New Orleans is tough and that Mike Thomas-Chris Olave tandem could be tough to contain. The Saints still have a wicked pass-rush that could cause some problems too.
