The Bengals 2025 opponents have officially been set after the conclusion of Week 17:
HOME
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Arizona Cardinals
AWAY
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Buffalo Bills
- Green Bay Packers
- Miami Dolphins
- Minnesota Vikings
- Denver Broncos
The NFL schedule is determined by a specific formula. Each team plays their divisional opponents twice, once at home and once on the road. The Bengals are currently 2-3 in the AFC North this year with a chance to go .500 if they win at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Teams also play four games against a specific division in their conference, two at home and two on the road, rotating divisions. For Cincinnati, it will play the AFC East in 2025 after playing the AFC West this season. The Bengals went 2-2 against the AFC West in 2024, featuring home victories against the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos.
Teams also play four games against a division in the NFC, two at home and two on the road, on a rotating basis. The Bengals will play the NFC North in 2025, hosting the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions and traveling to Green Bay and Minneapolis to play the Packers and Vikings. Cincinnati last played the NFC North in 2021, going 2-2.
Squads also match up with one team from the two remaining divisions in their conference, which is decided based on division standing. The Bengals finished third in the AFC North this season, so they will get the Jacksonville Jaguars (third in AFC South) at home and the Denver Broncos (third in AFC West) on the road.
The newest addition to the formula occurred in March 2021 when NFL clubs approved a new 17-game season schedule. The 17th opponent has to come from the opposite conference (NFC) and be from a division that the team didn't play the previous year or isn't scheduled to play that season or the following season. For the Bengals, that is the NFC West. Once the division is determined, the opponent is based on divisional standings. Home and away alternates year-to-year. For the Bengals, they will play the Arizona Cardinals, who finished third in the NFC West. Cincinnati last played Arizona in 2023, winning 34-20.
