The Bengals' 2016 schedule will be announced at 8:00 p.m. ET tonight (Thursday, April 14) on ESPN and NFL Network. A three hour show will take place to talk about the schedules on each network.
Here's how the NFL's scheduling formula works to determine opponents for all 32 teams each year:
- 3 home and 3 away games against three division opponents (six games).
- 4 games against teams from another division within the same conference on a rotating three-year cycle. In 2016, the Bengals will play the AFC East.
- 4 games against teams in a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle. In 2016, the Bengals will play the NFC East.
- 2 intraconference games based on the prior year's division standings. These games will match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched up in the same way. In 2016, the Bengals will play the Broncos and Texans in these first-place matchup games.
The Bengals' 2016 opponents are:
| Home | Away |
| Baltimore Ravens | Baltimore Ravens |
| Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Browns |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Buffalo Bills | New England Patriots |
| Miami Dolphins | New York Jets |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Dallas Cowboys |
| Washington (in London - Week 8) | New York Giants |
| Denver Broncos | Houston Texans |
Going into tonight, we know the Bengals will play Washington in London for a Week 8 matchup on Sunday, October 30, 2016. They will be sure to get a Week 9 bye, following that trip to London.
The Bengals travel to New York twice (Jets and Giants) and Texas twice (Cowboys and Texans). It will be interesting to see how those trips are planned out on their schedule. The Bengals also play the Broncos for the third year in a row, this time, in Cincinnati. Will the Bengals/Broncos game be on primetime in Week 16 again?
Who are you hoping to see early in the Bengals' schedule and who would you prefer to see later in the season? The Bengals have the longest streak of any team in the NFL of starting the season with an away game. That could change this year as the Reds don't play at home on the NFL's opening weekend.
Keep in mind, Vontaze Burfict will start the 2016 season with a three game suspension so Week 4 will be his 2016 debut.