Cincinnati Bengals 2024 NFL Schedule: Primetime matchups, biggest games, streaming info, and more
The year-round NFL calendar offseason is now fully in its next phase with the NFL schedule release finally here. Following a rough 2023 season, the Cincinnati Bengals have their eyes of claiming vengeance on the AFC North. They'll also have to get past three additional playoff teams from last year to return to the postseason […]
The year-round NFL calendar offseason is now fully in its next phase with the NFL schedule release finally here.
Following a rough 2023 season, the Cincinnati Bengals have their eyes of claiming vengeance on the AFC North. They'll also have to get past three additional playoff teams from last year to return to the postseason themselves.
So, let's not waste any more time and go over what the Bengals' 2024 regular season schedule looks like.
Bengals' 2024 Schedule
- Week 1: vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, Sep. 8, 1:00pm ET)
- Week 2: @ Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, Sep. 15, 4:25pm ET)
- Week 3: vs. Washington Commanders (Monday, Sep. 23, 8:15pm ET)
- Week 4: @ Carolina Panthers (Sunday, Sep. 29, 1:00pm ET)
- Week 5: vs. Baltimore Ravens (Sunday Oct. 6, 1:00pm ET
- Week 6: @ New York Giants (Sunday, Oct. 13, 8:20pm ET)
- Week 7: @ Cleveland Browns (Sunday, Oct. 20, 1:00pm ET)
- Week 8: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, Oct. 27, 4:25pm ET)
- Week 9: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, Nov. 3, 1:00pm ET)
- Week 10: @ Baltimore Ravens (Thursday, Nov. 7, 8:15pm ET)
- Week 11: @ Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, Nov. 17, 4:25pm ET)
- Week 12: BYE WEEK
- Week 13: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, Dec. 1, 1:00pm ET)
- Week 14: @ Dallas Cowboys (Monday, Dec. 9, 8:15pm ET)
- Week 15: @ Tennessee Titans (Sunday, Dec. 15, 1:00pm ET)
- Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns (Thursday, Dec. 19, 8:15pm ET)
- Week 17: vs. Denver Broncos (Sat OR Sun, Dec 28-29)
- Week 18: @ Pittsburgh Steelers (TBD)
Biggest Games on the Bengals' 2024 Schedule
Every divisional game: The AFC North is the best division in football, hands down. Cincinnati going 1-5 against their rivals last year was the biggest reason behind finishing last in the division. Going above .500 in the division is a must.
Bengals at Chiefs: It's a yearly tradition at this point. The Bengals will go back to Arrowhead Stadium to face Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champions in Week 2. Patrick Mahomes is usually unstoppable in September, and the Bengals have never been great out of the gates under Zac Taylor. This will be a tough test.
Bengals at Titans: After losing by 24 points to the Titans last year, the Bengals are going back down to Nashville for revenge in (Week blank). They'll have to beat their former offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, the Titans' new head coach, and former starters Chidobe Awuzie and Tyler Boyd, to get their getback.
Primetime Games and Streaming Service Broadcasts
Which games will be primetime viewing?
Joe Burrow is always appointment viewing for football fans, and the Zac Taylor Bengals have been exciting under the lights. The NFL has scheduled five of the Bengals' 17 games for primetime.
Cincinnati's first primetime game is in Week 3 against the Commanders. Joe Burrow will take on another former LSU quarterback in Jayden Daniels on Monday Night Football.
Up next in Week 6 is a trip to the Meadowlands for Sunday Night Football against the Giants, the only team Burrow hasn't played against in his career.
Burrow's last game before injuring his wrist last season was against the Ravens on Thursday Night Football in the middle of November. Cincinnati will once again travel to Baltimore on short rest in Week 10.
A trip the Lonestar State is next as the Bengals will square off against the Cowboys in Week 14 on Monday Night Football.
At last, the Bengals get to host a primetime game very late in the season in Week 16 when the Browns come to visit on Thursday Night Football.
Which games will you need streaming services to watch?
Thankfully, the only streaming service Bengals fans will need is Amazon Prime Video, as both Thursday Night Football games will be broadcasted there.
Strength of Schedule (based off Vegas win totals, not 2023 record)
Instead of ranking strength of schedule by last year's records, Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis bases his rankings on Vegas' projected win totals for the upcoming season. This methodology allows for a more accurate projection of how good teams are expected to be for the season.
Sharp has the Bengals' SOS as the sixth-easiest. Only the Atlanta Falcons, Chargers, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and New Orleans Saints have easier schedules, as pictured below:
Revenge Games on the Bengals' 2024 schedule
- Callahan, Awuzie, Boyd, and the Titans: Two former Bengals and the team's OC from the previous five years will play host to their former team in Tennessee. Callahan was the Bengals' OC from 2019-23. Awuzie was a starting cornerback from 2021-22, and had a more rotational role in 2023. Boyd played in 120 games for Cincinnati since being drafted in the second round back in 2016.
- Vonn Bell already has Bengals-Panthers circled: Bell was cut by the Panthers just one year after he left Cincinnati to sign with them. Needless to say, that game will be personal. Fellow safety Nick Scott is on the Panthers now after one year in Cincinnati, so it's almost like the two just traded places.
- Mike Gesicki, Trent Brown and the Patriots: Two of Cincy's newest starters came from New England in free agency. Gesicki was only there for a year, but Brown played seasons for the Pats.
- Geno Stone faces the Ravens twice: Baltimore players weren't too happy with Stone leaving for a division rival, but the Ravens could've just re-signed Stone in the first place. Both sides will be looking to prove the other wrong.
5 Must-watch Matchups
- Ja'Marr Chase vs. L'Jarius Sneed: These two do not like one another, but they are undoubtedly two of the best at their respective positions. Snead is now with the Titans, so the matchup will go beyond his previous stint with the Chiefs.
- Trent Brown vs. T.J. Watt: Brown was brought in to be a quality right tackle while first-round pick Amarius Mims develops behind him. If Brown can contain Watt better than his predecessors, the Bengals will have an easier time taking down the Steelers in their two meetings.
- Trey Hendrickson vs. Jordan Mailata: Hendrickson's recent trade request didn't get him the outcome he desired, so he'll be in stripes this season. One of his toughest matchups is the Eagles' massive, athletic left tackle in Mailata.
- Sheldon Rankins vs. Zack Martin: Rankins almost exclusively lined up against the right guard while he was with the Houston Texans, so it's fair to assume most of his snaps in Cincinnati will reflect that. Martin is still one of the better right guards in the game as he enters his mid-30s.
- Cam Taylor-Britt vs. CeeDee Lamb: 2024 is a huge year for Taylor-Britt to further establish himself as the Bengals' top corner. Lamb has already ascended as one of the game's best receivers and will be a tough playmaker for CTB to contain.
