Bengals falling further out of the AFC playoff picture has the NFL altering their upcoming schedule
The Bengals’ plans for Week 16 have been changed.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ Week 16 game against the Miami Dolphins now has a different kickoff time.
Originally scheduled for “Sunday Night Football” that week, Cincinnati’s road contest in Miami has been flexed to a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS. The New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens matchup will take its place at 8:25 p.m. on NBC.
This is the second time this season the Bengals have had one of their upcoming games moved to an earlier start time. Their previous game against the Buffalo Bills was originally slated to be played at 4:25 p.m. and was pushed up to a 1:00 p.m. tilt. It’s also the third time in the last four seasons Cincinnati has been booted out of a primetime night slot.
Falling to 4-9 on the season has its costs, and one of them is the risk of being booted out of the national spotlight.
Bengals no longer have any primetime games left on their schedule
Cincinnati officially knows when its next two games will be played. The Bengals host the Ravens Dec. 14 at 1:00 p.m. ET, and will be in Miami exactly one week later on Dec. 21. at the same time.
The dates of their two games have yet to be finalized. They host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17 and the Cleveland Browns in Week 18. Both games could be played on either Saturday or Sunday of that week.
Will either game be flexed into a primetime slot? Fat chance. Both the Cardinals and Browns have already been eliminated from playoff contention, and the Bengals could follow suit this week with a loss to Baltimore. Cincinnati is currently a 2.5-point underdog.
In all likelihood, the Bengals are done playing primetime games this year. They will have more good memories than bad from those nights.
Cincinnati is 2-1 playing under the lights this year. They beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in their two “Thursday Night Football” appearances, but lost to the Denver Broncos on “Monday Night Football.”
It’s the price you pay when you’re virtually out of the playoff picture. The Bengals need to win out and get some help in order to make the postseason, but will play in front of regional audiences in the process barring something unexpected.
Cincinnati Bengals News
Trey Hendrickson takes matters into his own hands, and his future with the Bengals is now anyone’s guess
His season is now over.
