On paper, the Cincinnati Bengals have a favorable schedule in 2026 after missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Bengals will play just four games against three opponents who had winning records last season (Texans, Steelers, Jaguars), with three of those four games coming in a row from Weeks 2-4.

The fourth and final game against a winning club from last season comes with a scheduling disadvantage for the Bengals.

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals players stretch ahead of practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, inside the team’s practice bubble in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals players stretch ahead of practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, inside the team’s practice bubble in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor on the sidelines during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, inside the teams practice bubble.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals Owner Mike Brown attends practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws a pass to a teammate during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase runs drills during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) unwraps his fingers during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals offense runs drills during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Landon Robinson (96) runs drills during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals safety PJ Jules (37) runs drills during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony (33) runs drills during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Tacario Davis (20) runs drills during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals Brian Parker II (62) during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Erick All Jr. (83) runs drills during practice, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Colbie Young (86) runs drills during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

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Cincinnati Bengals OTAs at Kettering Health Practice Fields. See photos

Cincinnati Bengals Owner Mike Brown attends practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.

(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)

John Breech of CBS Sports pointed out that the Bengals are one of five teams scheduled to play an international game, then play a team coming off a bye one week later. The Bengals are the only AFC team facing this situation as Minnesota, Detroit, Philadelphia and San Francisco are in similar spots.

In Week 9, the Bengals will face the Falcons at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. One week later, Cincinnati returns home to host the Steelers on “Sunday Night Football.” The Steelers will be coming off a Week 9 bye after back-to-back home games (New Orleans, Cleveland). Pittsburgh‘s primetime trip to Paycor Stadium Nov. 15 will be its first road game in nearly a month (Oct. 18 at Tampa Bay).

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Breech points out that teams facing this scheduling situation are 0-4 all-time with the last instance happening last October, when Pittsburgh came out of a bye week against a team coming off an international game. The Browns lost to Minnesota 21-17 in London on Oct. 5, then lost to the Steelers 23-9 at Acrisure Stadium one week later.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here is the NFL schedule disadvantage the Bengals will face in 2026