Coming off a 6-11 season, one of many key questions this offseason was what number of primetime video games the Cincinnati Bengals would get in 2026.
The reply to that’s three, with two of them coming at house. And the most effective half is that they’re each towards AFC North opponents.
All three primetime video games are within the second half of the common season, and the Bengals get one in all every on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday Evening Soccer. Let’s take a look at all three primetime video games and what we’re most excited for about every one in all them.
Week 10: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday Evening Soccer)
I really like this sport. A primetime sport, on Sunday Evening Soccer with Cris Collinsworth on the decision. We didn’t get to see a matchup between Joe Burrow and Aaron Rodgers in 2025. This yr, we are going to.
Pittsburgh is a mysterious crew. Are they going to be simply adequate to be in competition via December?
Or, might they crater and be like a beneath .500 crew for the primary time since 2003? They nonetheless have playmakers on either side of the ball, together with Rodgers. T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward are not any jokes, both.
The Steelers may have a brand new head coach in Mike McCarthy this season. He’s not new by any means. McCarthy is a Tremendous Bowl-winning head coach, though that was 16 years in the past.
This will probably be a bodily battle, particularly with the Bengals getting back from Madrid the week earlier than.
Week 11: @ Washington Commanders (Monday Evening Soccer)
That is… eerry. In the event you keep in mind Week 11 of 2020, you understand.
Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels each received Heisman Trophies at LSU, and so they performed a shootout matchup on Monday Evening Soccer in Week 3 of 2024. Now, we get this matchup in our nation’s capital three days earlier than Thanksgiving.
Washington flopped severely final yr, largely as a consequence of accidents. However head coach Dan Quinn didn’t make that an excuse or motive, altering each his offensive and defensive coordinators. The Commanders nailed their first spherical draft choose with Sonny Types, an All-American at Ohio State.
If Jayden Daniels stays wholesome this season and the younger protection takes a step ahead, the Commanders have each motive to consider they will get again to their 2024 magic.
Week 17: vs. Baltimore Ravens (Thursday Evening Soccer on New 12 months’s Eve)
That is what we wished… after which some. Getting the Ravens at house on Thursday Evening Soccer is one factor. On New 12 months’s Eve? Pop the champagne!
Just like the Steelers, the Ravens even have a brand new head coach. Jesse Minter is in his first head teaching job, coming over from the Chargers’ defensive coordinator place to hitch a crew led by Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, some good receivers, and playmakers on protection.
The Ravens went 8-9 final yr, lacking the Playoffs as a result of rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard discipline purpose at Pittsburgh as time expired within the AFC North Championship in Week 18.
I can’t look ahead to this sport. If each the Bengals and Ravens are good, fireworks will probably be anticipated.
