In 2021, the Bengals broke free of the habit of mediocrity that had defined the Bengals franchise over the last five seasons. Cincinnati has built a loaded offense featuring quarterback Joe Burrow with wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Cincinnati followed up its 2021 season with another run to a 12-4 record and a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 AFC Championship game. Since 2022, Cincinnati has been stuck in a rut with back-to-back 9-8 seasons and missing the playoffs the last two years. This offseason, the Bengals’ front office made a long-term commitment to their offensive skill players, but there is still a monumental amount of work to be done along the offensive line and the defensive side of the ball. Coming into 2025, expectations have grown, and the only acceptable outcome will be a return to the postseason in 2025.
Week 1 At Cleveland (0-0)
Recently, the Cincinnati Bengals have developed a reputation for having a slow start to the season, with multiple 0-2 starts. In 2025, the Bengals are in the best possible position to have a fast start to the season. Cincinnati should come into game 1 fully loaded on offense and with a defense that is showing improvement under the new defensive coordinator. In addition to the improvements the Bengals have made to their roster, they face a Cleveland Browns team that is in a chaotic state, particularly with a large group of mediocre quarterbacks. For all intents and purposes, the Bengals should come into Cleveland and dominate the Browns, but the Bengals tend to struggle to get into a rhythm when traveling to the Browns. Additionally, the Bengals must contend with a significant matchup between their pass protection and the Browns’ outstanding pass rush, led by Myles Garrett.
Bengals 31, Browns 17
Week 2 vs. Jacksonville (1-0)
The Bengals should be feeling confident after picking up a tough road win in Cleveland, and in Week 2, they return home to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars will be a team still searching for an identity, while the Bengals will be at home in front of a rabid fan base eager to see the Bengals return to the top of the AFC. Ultimately, Cincinnati will set the tone with its explosive offense, but the Bengals’ defense will need to make stops against a talented Jaguars offense led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., and running back Travis Etienne. Subsequently, this game will be an indicator of whether the Bengals will continue to be stuck in a rut or are now ready to make another run to the top of the AFC.
Bengals 35, Jaguars 24
Week 3 At Minnesota (2-0)
In Week 3, the Bengals face their first NFC North opponent when they travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings. The Vikings bring a strong offense into this game, led by wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Aaron Jones. What is different for the Vikings offense involves a change at quarterback. JJ McCarthy will lead the Vikings offense after former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold moved on to the Seattle Seahawks. The Bengals’ defense will have a difficult time stopping the Vikings’ offense and will need to force Minnesota to turn the ball over. Offensively, Cincinnati will face one of the top defensive units in the NFL, and despite having an explosive offense, they will have to perform under pressure due to the Vikings’ defensive coordinator’s blitz-heavy defensive scheme.
Vikings 31, Bengals 28
Week 4 At Denver (2-1)
For the second week in a row, the Bengals will face another defense that is one of the best units in the NFL. Similar to the Vikings game, the Bengals will need to find ways to protect quarterback Joe Burrow from a dominant pass rush. Establishing a strong running game will be essential for the Bengals against the Broncos. Additionally, the Broncos have an explosive offense that relies on a balanced attack. Cincinnati’s defense will need to secure several stops, and if the Bengals can force the Broncos to turn the ball over, their chances of picking up an important victory against a strong AFC West team would be an impressive achievement.
Broncos 31, Bengals 28
Week 5 vs. Detroit (2-2)
For the third week in a row, the Bengals will face another championship contender with an explosive offense and a solid defense. Cincinnati will need to be able to put points on the board against a tough defense, and that means that quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receiver Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase need to be healthy and hitting their stride. The Bengals do have the benefit of returning home to face the Lions, but the true challenge for Cincinnati will be stopping an offense that is loaded with weapons. Recently, the Lions have established an identity as a consistent team, featuring elite players such as running back Jahmyr Gibbs and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Cincinnati will need to bring a creative approach to contain Detroit’s offense.
Lions 31, Bengals 24
Week 6 At Green Bay (2-3)
In Week 7, the Bengals top off a brutal stretch of games against upper-tier teams when they travel to Green Bay to face the Packers. The Packers are similar to Cincinnati in that they have a strong offense capable of being explosive, and a defense with personnel that is still searching for a true identity. This matchup is expected to result in a high-scoring game, with both offenses under pressure to keep pace with their opponent. Meanwhile, the defensive units of each team that can secure a few stops will help their team pull ahead. A key part of the Bengals’ game plan against the Packers will involve linebackers Logan Wilson and Demetrius Knight Jr. shutting down running back Josh Jacobs.
Bengals 37, Packers 31
Week 7 vs. Pittsburgh (3-3)
Whenever the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers meet on the field, the game is sure to be intense. This season, the Bengals are in a position to be a young team that is poised to potentially make a championship run. In contrast, the Pittsburgh Steelers are a team defined by high-profile veteran additions to their roster, such as quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf. The top playmakers for the Steelers are hoping to make one last run deep into the postseason, but the Steelers’ conservative offense will have identity issues as Aaron Rodgers works to make this Steelers team his own. However, the most important matchup in this game will be Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt against Cincinnati’s offensive tackles, who have recently struggled with pass protection and consistency in the run game.
Bengals 35, Steelers 31
Week 8 vs. New York Jets, (4-3)
The Jets are a talented team on the defensive side of the ball, but continue to look for an identity on the offensive side of the ball. New York’s defensive secondary is the best part of their defense, so consequently, Zak Taylor and Joe Burrow will need to be patient and take what the defense is giving them. Cincinnati needs to establish Chase Brown and its running game, which will force the Jets to add numbers to the box to stop the Bengals’ run game. When the Jets add those numbers to the box, they will open themselves up for play-action shot plays downfield. Al Golden’s defense will need to contain Jets quarterback Justin Fields and force him to play from the pocket, which will lead to Fields turning the ball over.
Bengals 31, Jets 21
Week 9 vs. Chicago (5-3)
This Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears matchup features two of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. New Chicago head coach Ben Johnson will have his offense running as smoothly as possible when they come to Cincinnati. Pressuring Caleb Williams will be a key to stopping this Bears offense. Offensively, the Bengals are a more complete team than the Chicago Bears, and they will put an overwhelming amount of Bears defense to stop their high-flying passing game. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins need to have a big game against Chicago, and the Bengals’ offensive line will need to protect Joe Burrow against a Bears defense that will make mistakes while being aggressive. If the Bengals intend to return to the playoffs in 2025, this is a game they must win.
Bengals 27, Bears 24
Week 10: Bye Week (6-3)
The Cincinnati Bengals will ride the momentum of a three-game win streak into their bye week. Coming out of this bye week with a healthy roster is incredibly important, as the Bengals will be working to make a run to the playoffs in the second half of the season. In addition to getting healthy, the Bengals will need to practice with the purpose of maintaining the rhythm that has allowed them to win the last several games. Cincinnati will need to be ready to hit the ground running for the 2nd half of the season so that they can continue to climb to the top of the AFC and the AFC North division.
Week 11 At Pittsburgh (6-3)
This season is the Cincinnati Bengals’ best opportunity to sweep their division rivals from Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, the Steelers’ offense will be building good chemistry and connections between Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, and their other offensive weapons. Cincinnati does have the advantage of playing at home for this matchup with the Steelers. Despite having an explosive offensive scheme, it is inevitable for the Bengals’ skill players to lose some of their continuity during their bye week. The combination of the Steelers’ drive to return to the playoffs and the Bengals’ need to get back into a rhythm on offense will likely lead to Pittsburgh rejecting the Bengals’ bid to sweep the Steelers during the 2025 season.
Steelers 30, Bengals 21
Week 12 vs. New England (6-4)
The New England Patriots are a team in a state of flux with new head coach Mike Vrabel and a group of wide receivers added during the offseason, including Stefon Diggs. While the Patriots should be better than last year, they will still have some major deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball. It is likely that the Patriots will be a better team than they were last season. The Bengals did lose to the Patriots last year to start the 2024 season, despite being the better team on paper. Consequently, the Bengals will need to be prepared to play their best football. This game will be a significant point in the season. If the Bengals are championship contenders, then they will win this game. However, if they are pretenders, this could be another disappointing outcome against the Patriots.
Bengals 28, Patriots 17
Week 13 At Baltimore (7-4)
As the Bengals attempt to end the 2025 season with a strong push for the playoffs, they will face the Baltimore Ravens twice in three weeks. During the off-season, the Ravens added several reinforcements to their defense, which was already ranked in the top 10 defenses in the NFL. Offensively, the Ravens are led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Derrick Henry, and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. This will be a game where the Bengals will need to come in prepared to attempt to score on every drive and keep pace with the Ravens in a shootout. It will be very difficult for the Bengals’ defense to consistently stop the Ravens’ offense, which will put significant pressure on Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offense.
Ravens 35, Bengals 31
Week 14 @ Buffalo (7-5)
After losing on the road against the Ravens, the Bengals will need to find some success to hang their hat on to carry them to clinching a playoff berth. Unfortunately, the Bengals will have to travel to face another strong AFC team, the Buffalo Bills. Similar to the Ravens, the Bills have an impressive offense led by 2024 MVP quarterback Josh Allen. The Bills also like to pound the ball until their opponent’s defense breaks down later in the game. Due to inconsistent play on the defensive side of the ball, the Bengals’ offense will be in the position of needing to win a shootout against one of the top teams in the NFL. Upsetting the Buffalo Bills on the road would give the Bengals a huge boost and put Cincinnati on track to start making postseason plans. Unfortunately, the Bengals will have no margin for error against Buffalo.
Bills 35, Bengals 31
Week 15 vs. Baltimore (7-6)
eing swept by the Baltimore Ravens would not be conducive to giving the Bengals an opportunity to return to the AFC playoffs. That makes this matchup at home against the Ravens essentially a must-win game for Cincinnati. The Bengals will need to find success by scoring points on the scoreboard, but they will also have to manage the game effectively. Historically, the Bengals have played well against the Ravens at home, and that is critical, as the Bengals’ window for making the playoffs appears to be closing. Therefore, the Bengals will play with a level of urgency that should improve their performance enough to upset the Ravens and demonstrate that they are a playoff-quality team.
Bengals 27, Ravens 21
Week 16 At Miami (8-6)
Assuming that the Bengals survive the last three-week stretch games against the Ravens and Bills without suffering any major injuries, they should have a great chance to finish the season strong. Traveling to Miami, the Bengals will face a team that, like Cincinnati, is expected to struggle on the defensive side of the ball, especially with big changes being made at the cornerback position. Cincinnati will be able to move the ball against Miami, but the difference between winning and losing against the Dolphins will lie in the hands of their defense. Similar to the defensive side of the ball, the Miami Dolphins have had a chaotic season on the offensive side of the ball. If the Bengals’ defense can capitalize on the Dolphins’ mistakes, they will regain momentum for the playoffs.
Bengals 35, Dolphins 21
Week 17 vs. Arizona (9-6)
It would be accurate to say that the 2025 Arizona Cardinals are a team that resembles the NFC version of the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cardinals are banking on an explosive offense led by quarterback Kyler Murray, along with an impressive fleet of wide receivers, including Marvin Harrison Jr., and tight end Trey McBride. Additionally, Arizona has a defense that struggles to stop the best offensive teams in the NFL, and the Bengals’ set of offensive weapons should match up very well in favor of the Bengals’ offense. This game is set to be an exciting shootout between two impressive offenses, but homefield advantage will be significant for Cincinnati, with a stadium packed with rabid Bengals fans and the potential for cold weather conditions.
Bengals 38, Cardinals 35
Week 18 vs. Cleveland (10-6)
While the Cleveland Browns will potentially improve from the first game of the season to the last, the Bengals will have much more to play for compared to the Browns. If the Bengals have not clinched a playoff spot by this point in the season, then they will need to secure this win against the Browns. It is difficult to predict who will be leading the Browns’ offense by this time of the 2025 season. Defensively, the Browns’ defense will give Cincinnati’s offensive line trouble when it comes to pass protection, but Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins will need to show that they are worth the large contracts by winning a game against a struggling Browns team.
Bengals 21, Browns 17
Overall Record And Post-Season Prediction
Despite facing a difficult schedule in a challenging AFC North division, the Cincinnati Bengals are equipped to make a run back to the playoffs in 2025. Cincinnati will be loaded on the offensive side of the ball, but it will continue to struggle defensively. On the other hand, there is a chance that new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden can make big enough improvements to help Cincinnati compete against the best teams in the NFL. In 2021, the Bengals went 10-7 and rode the momentum of a winning streak at the end of the season to the Super Bowl. The 2025 Cincinnati Bengals will be a team capable of replicating an impressive run into the postseason.
Overall Record: 11-6, 2nd Place in the AFC North
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