NFL schedule could provide Bengals a boost more than any other team

To say the Cincinnati Bengals have a favorable schedule going into 2026 would be an understatement. Those Bengals have an easier schedule than anticipated because of how they finished last year. And ahead of the NFL schedule release, it’s important to keep in mind something about the AFC North: The Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers all have new head coaches.

This matters deeply, as the entire division is resetting with new programs. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said it best recently while highlighting just how good things look for the Bengals. “Let me get these teams in the earliest possible phase of the new head coach,” Florio said.

Florio’s co-host Devin McCourty pointed out something else really important: The New England Patriots played the NFC South and AFC South in 2025 on the way to the Super Bowl, beating up on teams with new head coaches. The Bengals play the NFC South and AFC South in 2026. Teams like Tennessee and Atlanta will have new head coaches next year, in addition to the six times the Bengals will see new AFC North coaches.

So, while it’s fun to focus on things like primetime games during the NFL schedule release, keep in mind for the Bengals that the more teams with new head coaches they see early in the year, the better. The Bengals have a favorable schedule. It will be even more favorable if they get the other three teams in the AFC North (all with new coaches) early in the year.