A recent comment from an NFL official all but guarantees one thing about the Cincinnati Bengals' schedule in 2023. 

The NFL will announce the 2023 schedule on May 11. 

And when that schedule is announced, Cincy fans should expect to see plenty of primetime games listed. 

NFL teams are permitted to appear in primetime a maximum of six times in a season. 

NFL's vice president for broadcasting Mike North expects the Bengals to be close to maxing out in 2023. 

"I would expect them to be pretty close to maxed out in terms of their prime-time appearances," said North recently (via Bengals.com). 

"Look, they play good games. They're always competitive," added North. "The scene at 'The Jungle,' in Cincinnati has become something where even our network partners are starting to talk about. What a scene it's become. The place is always full and when you think of a blimp shot on the overhead camera with the river and the stadium right there, it's exactly what our television partners are looking for."

A quick glance at Cincinnati's schedule reveals several potential options for primetime games. 

The Bengals' road game against the Kansas City Chiefs will almost certainly be a primetime game (that would be a good NFL kickoff game). 

Road games against the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars could also be options (Jacksonville has a surprisingly lively primetime crowd). Cincinnati's divisional opponents will always be options as well (especially the Pittsburgh Steelers…Joe Burrow vs Kenny Pickett should be fun).

As for potential home games that could be primetime games, the matchup against the Buffalo Bills stands out as an option, though it would be understandable if the NFL wants that game played on a Sunday afternoon out of respect for Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest that happened in Cincinnati on a Monday night in January. 

Home games against the Minnesota Vikings (Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase vs their former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson will be must-see television) and Los Angeles Rams could be options, as well as the aforementioned divisional games. 

Regardless of which games are picked, Cincinnati fans should prepare for a third of the Bengals' season to be played under the lights. 

It's far cry from how things were before Joe Burrow's arrival in 2020.