The Bengals’ 2025 opponents were finalized after Week 17 of the 2024 season. While teams will undergo significant changes during the offseason, here is a brief preview for each opponent.
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Divisional Opponents
Baltimore Ravens
The Bengals will play their AFC North counterparts twice in 2025, once at home and once on the road. The Ravens are looking to make a run in the 2024 playoffs as the third seed. Looking forward, QB Lamar Jackson will return to lead an offense that finished tied for second in total touchdowns this past season. Jackson is a finalist for his third MVP award after tossing 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions and adding 915 yards and four scores on the ground. Derrick Henry should be back in the fold as well, coming off a 1,921-rushing yard campaign in his first season with Baltimore.
Cincinnati went 0-2 against the Ravens in 2024, but each game came down to the wire. Week 5 in Cincinnati went into overtime, while Week 10 in Baltimore was a one-point loss.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers ended the 2024 regular season on a four-game losing skid, but they will still compete in the playoffs as the sixth seed. There may be turnover in Pittsburgh's offense during the offseason, as starting quarterback Russell Wilson will be a free agent. Regardless of who is under center, the Steelers will likely be what they've been under head coach Mike Tomlin: tough, gritty and in the playoff conversation.
The Bengals split the season series with Pittsburgh this past season, losing in Week 13 at Paycor Stadium and winning at Acrisure Stadium in Week 18.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns will look to move on quickly from the 2024 season after finishing 4-13 and securing the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Cleveland started four quarterbacks over the course of the season: Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe. Watson projects to be back in the fold, but it remains to be seen if Cleveland will bring in competition in 2025. The Browns should have game-wrecker Myles Garrett still anchoring their defense, a unit that finished with the second-fewest takeaways in 2024 (12).
The Bengals swept the season series in 2024 with victories in Week 7 in Cleveland and Week 16 in Cincinnati.
Home Opponents
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals finished third in the NFC West in 2024 with an 8-9 record. QB Kyler Murray projects to be under center again in 2025, while rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. looks to take a step forward. TE Trey McBride finished as one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL last season, tallying 111 receptions for 1,146 yards. The Cardinals were just 2-6 on the road in 2024.
Cincinnati traveled to Arizona in 2023, defeating the Cardinals 34-20.
Chicago Bears
The Bears will have a new head coach in 2025 after Matt Eberflus was let go following a Thanksgiving loss to the Detroit Lions. Whoever is coaching Chicago will inherit 2024 first overall pick Caleb Williams. The former Heisman winner showed promise in his rookie campaign, throwing for 3,500 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Detroit Lions
The Lions will come to Paycor Stadium in the fall after securing the number one seed in this year's NFC playoffs. They will likely be a threat for the NFC crown again in 2025, as they are projected to return the majority of their starters. Detroit will also likely be healthier than it was this season, as they lost numerous key contributors to injury, including DE Aidan Hutchinson, who was having a potential Defensive Player of the Year campaign before suffering a season-ending leg injury in Week 6.
The Bengals last played the Lions in 2021, coming away with a 34-11 victory.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The fourth team looking for a head man, the Jaguars also had a disappointing 2024 campaign that resulted in the firing of head coach Doug Pederson on Monday. QB Trevor Lawrence missed much of the latter part of the season due to injury, and the team's defense struggled to contain opponents. However, rookie Brian Thomas Jr. seems to be the next great LSU wideout in the pros, following in the footsteps of Ja'Marr Chase: Thomas finished 2024 with 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, becoming one of four receivers in the Super Bowl era to have at least 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns in their rookie campaign.
The Bengals last played the Jaguars in 2023 in Jacksonville, winning in overtime.
New England Patriots
The second of four teams listed who will have a new head coach, the Patriots are slated to have the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. New England does have ample cap space and a quarterback, as rookie Drake Maye had a solid rookie campaign. The Patriots' roster will likely look very different by the start of the 2025 season.
New York Jets
Another team in search of a new head coach, the Jets did not live up to expectations in 2024. Future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers struggled at times coming off his torn Achilles, and the team finished 5-12. It remains to be seen if Rodgers will be playing football at all in 2025, let alone in green and white. New York has young talent, including RB Breece Hall, WR Garrett Wilson and former Cincinnati Bearcat CB Sauce Gardner. It will be a new-look New York squad coming into Paycor next season.
Road Opponents
Buffalo Bills
A trip to Buffalo is on the docket for the Bengals in 2025. The Bills secured the second seed in the 2024 AFC playoffs and project to be right in the mix again next season. QB Josh Allen put up an impressive campaign during the regular season, scoring 40 total touchdowns (28 passing, 12 rushing). Buffalo could look different on offense outside of Allen and RB James Cook, as WR Amari Cooper is a scheduled free agent.
Cincinnati last played in Buffalo during the 2022 playoffs, defeating the Bills in a snowy 27-10 Divisional round victory.
Denver Broncos
Finally, next year's schedule will feature an encore of the Bengals' most exciting game from this past season, as Cincinnati travels to the Mile High City to take on the Broncos. The Bengals beat Denver in an overtime thriller less than two weeks ago to keep playoff hopes alive, but the Broncos bounced back with a win in Week 18 to edge out Cincinnati for the final AFC playoff spot.Denver's QB Bo Nix will enter his sophomore season with at least one playoff game under his belt, after tallying 33 total touchdowns in his rookie campaign. Under head coach Sean Payton, the Broncos figure to be in the playoff discussion again in 2025.
Green Bay Packers
Another game that could have freezing temperatures depending on when it's scheduled, the Bengals will travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers in 2025. Green Bay finished the 2024 regular season with an 11-6 record but were still third in the NFC North. The Packers enter the 2024 NFC playoffs as the seven seed. QB Jordan Love will return under center after throwing 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games this past season. It will be the first time the Bengals have played against Love.
Miami Dolphins
Finally, a guaranteed warm weather game for the Bengals in 2025 as they travel to Miami. The Dolphins finished third in the AFC East in 2024 but missed out on the playoffs. In similar fashion to Cincinnati, Miami's fate came down to Week 18, but they lost to the New York Jets. QB Tua Tagovailoa projects to be under center again next season.
Minnesota Vikings
One of the biggest surprises of 2024, the Vikings finished the season 14-3. After entering the season with uncertainty under center, QB Sam Darnold had a redemption year, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns in head coach Kevin O'Connell's scheme. Minnesota has a big decision to make, as Darnold is scheduled to be a free agent, and they drafted Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury during the preseason, opening up the door for Darnold to play.
Whoever is under center will be throwing to one of the best arsenals in the NFL between receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, along with tight end TJ Hockenson. The Vikings defense has been much improved in 2024 under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who is a hot name on the head coach market for 2025. Cincinnati last played the Vikings in 2023, winning 27-24 in overtime.
The full NFL schedule will be released during the offseason.
