CINCINNATI BENGALS
2025 Record - 6-11-0
Head Coach - Zac Taylor
2025 Offensive Rank - 329 YPG (17th); Rushing - 94 YPG (29th), Passing - 235 YPG (6th) SCORING - 24.4 PPG (12th)
2025 Defensive Rank - 381 YPG (31st); Rushing - 147 YPG (32nd), Passing - 234 YPG (26th) SCORING - 28.9 PPG (30th)
Key Player Additions - Dexter Lawrence (DL), Jonathan Allen (DL), Bryan Cook (DB), Kyle Dugger (DB), Boye Mafe (LB/DL)
Key Player Losses - Trey Hendrickson (DL), Geno Stone (DB), Joseph Ossai (DL), Jake Browning (QB), Noah Fant (TE), Cam Taylor-Britt (DB), Tycen Anderson (DB)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Joe Burrow enters his seventh NFL season and is coming back from injuries last season that limited him to just eight games, as he had 1,809 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. Ageless Joe Flacco is the backup and in his 18th season, he passed for 2,479 yards with 15 touchdowns and ten interceptions. Chase Brown is the primary running back, going for 1,019 yards last year (4.4 YPC) and he scored six touchdowns in addition to getting 69 receptions for 437 yards and five touchdowns. Samaje Perine (382, 4.5 YPC, three TD) is the other half of the running attack. The wide receivers are two of the best in the NFL as Ja'Marr Chase (125 receptions, 1,412 yards, eight TD) and Tee Higgins (59, 846, eleven TD) give the Bengals a solid tandem in the passing game. Andrei Iosivis and tight end Mike Gesicki (28, 307, two TD) are the other main targets in the passing game.
DEFENSE - The Bengals revamped up front and have Dexter Lawrence (acquired from New York Giants) at nose tackle along with Jonathan Allen (free agent signee from Minnesota Vikings), Myles Murphy (5 1/2 QB sacks), Boye Mafe and rookie edge rusher Cashius Howell (Texas A&M). Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight, Jr. (106 tackles, two INT) lead the linebacking corps and the defensive backfield has safeties Jordan Battle (112 tackles, four interceptions), Kyle Dugger and Bryan Cook. The cornerbacks include Dax Hill, DJ Turner II (two picks) and nickel back Jalen Davis. Cincinnati's defense had 35 sacks a year ago and picked off 13 passes, but allowed just under 29 points per game, which was 30th in the league.
2026 SEASON OUTLOOK - Defense, defense, defense is the name of the game as the Bengals prepare for the upcoming season. In 2025, they had one of the worst units in the NFL, allowing close to 400 yards per game while ranking last against the run, giving up 147 yards per game. Opponents torched the Bengals for too many big plays as they allowed 30-plus points seven times last year. Head Coach Zac Taylor is yet again on that proverbial "hot seat" entering the new season, but it's hard to blame him for Joe Burrow being injured so often. As long as Burrow is upright and able to go on game day, this team has a chance to win.
The offense is a machine with Burrow under center, especially with a great duo (Chase and Higgins) at wide receiver. Chase Brown does a good job running the football and the offensive line is adequate in pass protection, giving up 36 sacks last season. The defense will tell the story as well as Burrow remaining injury free in 2026 in regards to any success this team will have. The Bengals brought in no less than six new faces along with top draft pick Cashius Howell, who comes in highly regarded from Texas A&M to improve their porous defense. With better pressure on enemy quarterbacks and a run stuffer like Lawrence up front, the hope is the defense keeps opponents scoring down. If the defense can step up and Burrow and his gang do their thing, this team will compete for the AFC North crown and who knows what else can happen when the playoffs come around.
The Bengals can score points, so it's just a matter of being able to outscore the other team and that is where the defense, with a new look, hopes things will be better this season. Bengals fans (and Zac Taylor) are counting on it.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Tampa Bay
Week Two - at Houston
Week Three - at Pittsburgh
Week Four - vs. Jacksonville
Week Five - at Miami
Week Six - BYE
Week Seven - at Baltimore
Week Eight - vs. Tennessee
Week Nine - vs. Atlanta (Madrid, Spain)
Week Ten - vs. Pittsburgh
Week Eleven - at Washington
Week Twelve - vs. New Orleans
Week Thirteen - at Cleveland
Week Fourteen - vs. Kansas City
Week Fifteen - at Carolina
Week Sixteen - at Indianapolis
Week Seventeen - vs. Baltimore
Week Eighteen - vs. Cleveland
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