AFC North Schedule Analysis: Cincinnati Bengals
The hype is going to be insane in Cincinnati this season due to the first overall pick of LSU QB Joe Burrow. Burrow had a storybook senior season in college that ultimately ended in a national championship, and he will look to bring the magic into the Bengals organization. Let’s analyze how their schedule will fare this year.
Last Year’s Record: 2-14
Besides two lone wins against the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns, the Bengals spent the other fourteen weeks watching the opposing team walk off as winners. The season became a lost one extremely fast, and fans became more excited for the draft than the game. With the Andy Dalton era now over in Cincy, the keys are in Joe Burrow’s hands now. How will Burrow handle the pressure of dealing with a young roster that is still growing?
Schedule:
Week 1
vs Los Angeles
Week 2
@ Cleveland
Week 3
@ Philadelphia
Week 4
vs Jacksonville
Week 5
@Baltimore
Week 6
@Indianapolis
Week 7
vs Cleveland
Week 8
vs Tennessee
Week 9
BYE WEEK
Week 10
@Pittsburgh
Week 11
@Washington
Week 12
vs New York
Week 13
@Miami
Week 14
vs Dallas
Week 15
vs Pittsburgh
Week 16
@Houston1
Week 17
vs Baltimore
Most Intriguing Game: Week 13 at Miami Dolphins
This was a very easy choice. In Week 13, the Cincinnati Bengals will travel to Miami to face the Dolphins. It is the first time that Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa will face off in their careers as they both look to become the future of the sport at the quarterback position. With both teams in rebuild mode, this game may have no playoff implications at all, but the fact that these two are squaring off is going to attract many fans to watch this game. The Dolphins have the better roster on paper, but I would not count out the Bengals to win this game, especially if Burrow is playing well.
Most Important Game: Week 1 vs LA Chargers
This game may come as a shock to many, but I believe that the most important game of the Bengals season is Week 1 against the Chargers. For Cincy, wins were few and far between last year (2-14). Imagine the Bengals winning in Week 1 in their home opener and Joe Burrow’s debut. It would be half of their win total from the year before, and would give many young players confidence, which is important for a rebuilding team’s success. On the other hand, if they lose in Week 1, many people will start to think, “here we go again,” even if that is unfair. Either way, Week 1 is the most important game for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020.
Most Important Stretch: Weeks 5-8
From Weeks 5 to 8, the Bengals will play at Baltimore and Indianapolis, and then at home against Cleveland and Tennessee. All four of these teams have a shot at making the playoffs this season, and this is by far the toughest part of the Bengals schedule. The toughest game out of this stretch is on the road at Baltimore, who are arguably the best team in the AFC. If the Bengals can scratch out two wins they’d go into their bye week happy, and three would be cause for celebration. Also, after a Week 10 game in Pittsburgh, the Bengals can take advantage of the weaker part of their schedule until Week 14 where they play Dallas at home. This stretch will be make or break Cincinnati’s success in 2020
Prediction: 5-11
Even with the first pick in Joe Burrow and weapons like WR A.J. Green and RB Joe Mixon, the Bengals are going to struggle in the trenches. I can’t see them beating a team like Baltimore, Tennessee, or Dallas, teams that can dominate a game by running the ball. Cincy should take care of business against teams like Jacksonville and Washington based on the talent they added alone. With a couple of more wins and a split with either Cleveland or Pittsburgh, the Bengals will be an upgrade from last year, but still not good enough to beat any good team consistently.
NFL Schedule according to ESPN
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