2025 Opponents Set/Offseason Notes

[HoosierCat]

Now trending toward the Vikes in week 1.

New rumor: Bengals host Jax in week 2.

Stay tuned for more social media BS until the real thing comes out!

[HoosierCat]

Steelers @ Bengals week 7 TNF, allegedly. Ick. Thursday divisional games suck.

[HoosierCat]

We’ve now swung towards opening in Cleveland. Bills week 14.

[COB]

17 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

We’ve now swung towards opening in Cleveland. Bills week 14.

The league trying to help us get over our 0-2 starts.  

[HoosierCat]

34 minutes ago, COB said:

The league trying to help us get over our 0-2 starts.  

Bah. You underestimate the power of Club Zac. Even as we speak a small army of bikini-clad hotties is setting up beach chairs and prepping the frozen margarita machines.

[HoosierCat]

Ravens news:

Quote

Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens reached agreement Wednesday on a two-year, $30 million extension that includes $25 million fully guaranteed over the next two seasons, agent Todd France of Athletes First told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

It is the largest deal in NFL history for a running back over 30 years old. Henry is 31.

Henry rushed for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, his first with Baltimore after signing with the Ravens in free agency.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45146544/rb-derrick-henry-agrees-two-year-30m-extension-ravens

[ArmyBengal]

Give us a 2nd and 3rd in next year’s draft and I will say my goodbye’s to Trey. I’m sick of all the Bengals bashing and forgetting they have given him more at every step. The defense is still going to have issues this year regardless. 

[COB]

3 hours ago, ArmyBengal said:

Give us a 2nd and 3rd in next year’s draft and I will say my goodbye’s to Trey. I’m sick of all the Bengals bashing and forgetting they have given him more at every step. The defense is still going to have issues this year regardless. 

Yep.  Trey is grotesquely playing into the media narrative.  He’ll be back on Macafee soon, blah blah blah.  I expect a pretty high level media guy will pretty soon come out with a pro bengals take of, “this guy won’t play on the extension he asked for and received.seems to come back every year with his hand out.”  One of these guys will just realize it and see the opportunity to have a new angle on it.  

[ArmyBengal]

Saw local channel 5 reporting they open the season in Cleveland.

[Stripes]

W1 at CLE

W2 vs JAX

W3 at MIN

W4 at DEN MNF

W5 vs DET

W6 at GB

W7 vs PIT TNF

W8 vs NYJ

W9 vs CHI

W10 BYE

W11 at PIT

W12 vs NE

W13 at BAL TNF

W14 at BUF

W15 vs BAL

W16 at MIA SNF

W17 vs ARI

W18 vs CLE

[Stripes]

Weeks 13-15 are brutal and will probably make or break the season.

Two divisional TNF games is hot bullshit.

[HoosierCat]

Weeks 3-5 will tell us whether we need to watch the rest of the season.

[ArmyBengal]

Primetime Thanksgiving at the Ravens.

Didn't see that coming.

I like the week 10 bye.

[COB]

Holy shit, we play the cardinals, the bears, the jags, the jets, and the patriots.  I’ll take it.

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

Primetime Thanksgiving at the Ravens.

Didn't see that coming.

I like the week 10 bye.

Yeah only the second Turkey Day tilt in franchise history. That’s a big deal.

The bye is well placed. It’s right in the middle of a stretch where they will play 6 games in 32 days, with the first and last games both Thursday night division games. That’s rough.

Preseason sked per Hobs:

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The Bengals' preseason schedule also has been finalized. Cincinnati will travel for its first two preseason games — at Philadelphia on Thursday, Aug, 7 at 7:30 p.m., and at Washington on Monday, Aug. 18 at 8 p.m. The Bengals then wrap up their preseason schedule with a home contest against Indianapolis on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 1 p.m. 

 

[ArmyBengal]

You all know I enjoy preseason, but I'm sick of the Colts coming to town every year in the preseason.
I typically go to watch the young Bengals players, but it would be nice to see an opposing team that is intriguing.
The Colts are not that team.

[HoosierCat]

W1 at CLE: L because it's week 1 (0-1)

W2 vs JAX: L see above just week 2 (0-2)

W3 at MIN: W season saved! (1-2)

W4 at DEN MNF: W prime time Joe show (2-2)

W5 vs DET: L can't buy a win at home (2-3)

W6 at GB: W road warriors tho (3-3)

W7 vs PIT TNF: L they should win but somehow, some way, choke (3-4)

W8 vs NYJ: W finally the first home win! (4-4)

W9 vs CHI: W two in a row! (5-4)

W10 BYE

W11 at PIT: W entering must-win territory already (6-4)

W12 vs NE: W revenge is a dish best served cold game (7-4)

W13 at BAL TNF: L defense still sucks (7-5)

W14 at BUF: W keepin' hope alive (8-5)

W15 vs BAL: L womp womp (8-6)

W16 at MIA SNF: W winning record achieved! (9-6)

W17 vs ARI: W barely, but a win is a win (10-6)

W18 vs CLE: W Browns have already packed it in (11-6)

Baltimore wins the division, Bengals earn wild card berth

[ArmyBengal]

Let me give this a try Hoosier.
Mine is predicated on Trey being here and Golden getting the defense into the teens, if even #19.

W1 at CLE: Win because Cleveland is a wreck
W2 vs JAX: Win because Jacksonville is a wreck
W3 at MIN: Loss
W4 at DEN MNF: Loss on the road to a good team
W5 vs DET: Loss to what I believe is one of the best teams in the league
W6 at GB: Loss
W7 vs PIT TNF: Win against the Steelers at home in primetime
W8 vs NYJ: Win because the Jets suck
W9 vs CHI: Win because Chicago cannot seem to build a roster to save their lives
W10 BYE: 
W11 at PIT: Win because I really don't care who their QB is, they won't win much
W12 vs NE: Win because I don't believe in Drake Maye or that team very much
W13 at BAL TNF: Loss, it's Baltimore on the road in primetime
W14 at BUF: Loss, they are going to dominate again
W15 vs BAL: Win because we always seem to split
W16 at MIA SNF: Win
W17 vs ARI: Win
W18 vs CLE: Win

So I'm at 11-7 as well, but a different way to get there.
It will be close between us and the Ravens yet again, but I see us getting back to playoffs.

If Golden doesn't get the defense on track and Trey goes rogue or is traded, this gets ugly.

[Stripes]

Let's see...

L W1 at CLE
This certainly shouldn't be a loss, but I am not picking a week one win against any opponent until Zac Taylor proves he can prepare a winning game plan for the opener. He did win once (2021 vs. MIN), but only in overtime. He has never won in week one in regulation as a head coach.

W W2 vs JAX
Now I'm just being a fool. No 0-2 start??? Jacksonville shouldn't be treated as pushovers, but I think this matchup will be just what the doctor ordered. Burrow will elevate against his premier collegiate QB and #1 overall pick competition.

L W3 at MIN
JJ McCarthy is basically a rookie QB, and this will be his opportunity to look like he has been in the league for a decade. Al Golden has never demonstrated he has the rookie QB illness that so many Bengals DCs before him have suffered, but I am just going to take it for granted that the illness continues.

W W4 at DEN MNF
The fans are down on the team with another weak start underway and fully expect this road loss. The Bengals show up and win handily under the lights, reminding everyone that even when things look shitty they can win any week with Burrow at QB.

L W5 vs DET
The defense gets its ass handed to them in a really bad matchup. The Lions offensive line does whatever it wants. This ends up being the Bengals' worst loss of the season.

W W6 at GB
The Bengals continue to ride the see-saw and also hold true to an old meme: seeming more competent on the road than at home. Jordan Love can't keep up with Burrow and throws a couple picks.

W W7 vs PIT TNF
Finally, we get consecutive wins. The Steelers should never be underestimated, but the Bengals handle business at home under the lights in an ugly, low-scoring win.

W W8 vs NYJ
One cannot help hearing the ghostly whispers of Mike White here even if he is no longer a Jet. Still, the Bengals are able to mount enough offense that the Jets cannot keep pace.

W W9 vs CHI
Four in a row. Things are looking up heading into the bye. However, this game also introduces as many concerns as it answers questions. It's a wild shootout like the Bengals lost so many of in 2024, but this time the Bears out-Bear the Bengals and lose.

W10 BYE

L W11 at PIT
I don't think I can pick a sweep over Pittsburgh. Strangely, I would feel better about that if they do get Aaron Rodgers. The Mason Rudolph scrub QB types bring that dark magic mojo that scares me irrationally.

W W12 vs NE
We're not losing at home to this team in consecutive seasons. Fuck you.

L W13 at BAL TNF
Ugh. Enjoy your turkey. This is the schedule's biggest load of bullshit (again), and the home team tends to win in primetime AFC North games. Lamar elevates against Burrow as much as Burrow against Lamar.

L W14 at BUF
This feels like another bad matchup for the defense, though for different reasons than the Lions game. This time, the Bengals inconsistent or anemic pass rush really hurts them. Josh Allen feasts both on the ground and through the air and wins the shootout.

W W15 vs BAL
Much needed division win late in the season to feel better about this team's playoff prospects. The defense is starting to round into form at the end of the season, especially in the division matchups, and Burrow feasts. This ends up a surprisingly comfortable win.

W W16 at MIA SNF
I don't know if this will still be on SNF by the time we get here. If it is, I think it's fair to expect offense. Burrow, Chase, and Higgins have a little more to offer than Tua, Hill, and Waddle.

W W17 vs ARI
The Cardinals could be feisty and annoying. This is when Burrow teams play at their best, however, and they should have a solid advantage at home.

W W18 vs CLE
The Bengals help Cleveland lock up a top three overall draft pick.

Looks like that's 11-6, which feels okay to me. I'm showing 3-3 in division games, splitting with everyone. That's probably a wild card berth.

I'm sure this was a pointless exercise. I'd like to say "I'll see how this looks when the season ends", but I won't remember that.

[HoosierCat]

Back on everyone's favorite subject, I see that negotiations between the county and the Bengals about the stadium are going just great...

Quote

Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich Friday doubled down on her decision to dismiss the county's long-standing legal firm, Frost Brown Todd, from negotiations with the Bengals and the Reds, and that the Bengals have not been negotiating in good faith.

Quote

Pillich accused the Bengals of not negotiating in good faith with the county's lead consultant Thursday. "I don't see the Bengals coming faithfully to the negotiating table," she said then.

Quote

While appearing on Bill Cunningham's 700 WLW show on Friday, Pillich addressed claims made by the Bengals regarding the county's consultant, with the team alleging conflict of interest because his firm also works with the Cleveland Browns on that team's attempt to get a new stadium.

"So for the Bengals to come out and start complaining months later is a little disingenuous to me. And they have no, absolutely no business telling us who we can have on our negotiating team. I would never tell them who they can have on theirs," Pillich said.

And the team...?

Quote

"This to us feels like a step backwards," Bengals lead lawyer Aaron Herzig said. "It's too soon to tell but it certainly feels like a new complication."

It's good to see such warmth and comity between HamCo and the Bengals.

[HoosierCat]

Florio: Hendrickson is basically f*cked.

Quote

Now, Hendrickson is stuck. His options are simple, and few. One, take the team’s best offer on a new deal. Two, play for $16 million and become a free agent in 2026 (unless they tag him). Three, hold out and hope the Bengals will cave.

Here’s the problem for Hendrickson. The Bengals will not cave. On matters of this nature, they do not care. Even as they reluctantly spend where they must (in order to keep Joe Burrow from losing his shit and demanding a trade), the Bengals continue to prioritize making money over pursuing championships.

It’s expensive to be good. Super Bowl trips ain’t free. Travel, hotels, events. It cuts into the piggy bank. (The league provides some assistance for the Super Bowl-week costs, but not much.)

And then, if you win, rings need to be purchased — at roughly $30,000 to $50,000 each. (The NFL apparently contributes $5,000 to $7,000 per ring, for up to 150 of them. Which, of course, means that the Bengals would be tempted to budget $7,001 per ring.)

If Hendrickson wants to skip mandatory minicamp and be fined by the team, that’ll be fine with Bengals owner Mike Brown. If Hendrickson wants to give up $50,000 per day to hold out of training camp, Brown will gladly accept the gift.

And if Hendrickson hopes to sacrifice $888,888 per game to stay away into the regular season, plenty of angels will be getting their wings as the Cincinnati cash register rings and rings.

By complaining about coach Zac Taylor’s text message that missing mandatory minicamp comes with a fine, Hendrickson tipped his hand. He’s already doing the math on what it will cost to stay away.

So, basically, he can huff and puff all he wants, for now. When it’s time to report for work or face significant fines, he knows what the Bengals will do. And Hendrickson doesn’t seem to be willing to pay the price.

That’s one of the benefits of the Bengals’ unique brand of dysfunction. In situations like this, it’s not a bluff. If a player wants to stay home and increase the organization’s profit margin along the way, they’re fine with that.

At some level, they might even prefer it.

Can't say I disagree.