Bengals’ Remaining Schedule Is Roughly 42.5% Strength, and the AFC North Needs to Pay Attention

The Cincinnati Bengals just dropped a 35-point bomb on the Baltimore Ravens, winning 35-13 after scoring 35 unanswered points. That monster win puts them at 4-2 through seven weeks, and while the 5-2 Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers are still a game ahead, the Bengals are actually in fantastic shape heading into Week 8. Why? Because the rest of their 2026 campaign is about to get ridiculously easy, thanks to a strength of schedule that’s practically a gift from the football gods.

The Schedule That Will Make You Jealous

Seriously, you won’t believe how soft the Bengals’ remaining schedule is. Computer Cowboy, @benbbaldwin on Twitter/x, pointed out that the Bengals’ remaining strength of schedule is well below 45 percent, clocking in at roughly 42.5 percent. That’s the easiest remaining slate in the entire league! Just look at their November matchups: Week 8 sees them facing the 1-6 Tennessee Titans, then the 3-4 Atlanta Falcons in Week 9. They get the 5-2 Steelers in Week 10, then the 1-4-1 Washington Commanders in Week 11, wrapping up November against the 2-5 New Orleans Saints. That’s not just easy; that’s like a bye week spread across a month.

Beyond November: Still a Cakewalk?

While December and January do get a *bit* tougher, it’s still nothing to write home about. They face the 5-2 Cleveland Browns in Week 13, then the 5-1 Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14. Yeah, the Chiefs are legit, probably the only truly challenging opponent outside of their divisional matchups, but then it’s back to lighter fare. They get the 3-3 Carolina Panthers in Week 15, the 2-6 Indianapolis Colts in Week 16, the 4-3 Ravens in Week 17, and then wrap things up against the Browns again in Week 18. The Ravens might have Lamar Jackson back, but the team as a whole has some serious question marks. And those 5-2 Steelers and Browns? The Bengals have shown they can realistically beat those guys.

At 4-2, with this kind of runway ahead, the Bengals aren’t just looking at a playoff berth; they’re staring down an AFC North title. They kick off their super-easy run next week in Week 8 against the 1-6 Tennessee Titans. This is their chance to make a real statement and separate themselves in the division.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by The Sporting News.