The Cincinnati Bengals still have hopes of reaching the playoffs for the 2024 season, but they now know their path to the 2025 postseason as well.
Thanks to the Lions defeating the 49ers on “Monday Night Football,” the Bengals’ schedule of opponents for the 2025 season is officially locked in. Why was Monday’s game the final piece of the puzzle? It’s because the Bengals are scheduled to host the same-place finisher in the NFC West as their “17th game” next season. The Bengals are assured of finishing in third place in the AFC North, so it was a matter of who finished third in the NFC West, AFC South and AFC West — the Bengals will play every team in the AFC East and NFC North next season.
The Jaguars secured third place in the AFC South after completing the sweep of the Titans Sunday, setting up the Jaguars visiting the Bengals next season. The Broncos will finish third in the AFC West, so the Bengals will meet up with Sean Payton’s crew again next season but, this time, in the Mile High City.
With the 49ers losing Monday, they are assured of finishing in last place in the NFC West. Had they won, they could have still finished in third. With the loss, they are a game behind the Arizona Cardinals and Arizona would hold the tiebreaker thanks to common opponents. Therefore, the Bengals will welcome Kyler Murray and friends to Cincinnati next season.
With that said, here is the full list of opponents for the Bengals for the 2025 season.
Home:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Arizona Cardinals
Away:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Denver Broncos
