CINCINNATI BENGALS
AFC North•6-11 SU · 8-9 ATS•Paycor Stadium
2026 Just J Football Companion profile
Schedule
Next up · Week 1
vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sun 9/13 · 1:00 PM
2026 schedule
- Wk 1vs Tampa Bay BuccaneersSpread —Total —Sun 9/13 · 1:00 PM
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- Wk 2at Houston TexansSpread —Total —Sun 9/20 · 1:00 PM
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- Wk 3at Pittsburgh SteelersSpread —Total —Sun 9/27 · 1:00 PM
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- Wk 4vs Jacksonville JaguarsSpread —Total —Sun 10/4 · 1:00 PM
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- Wk 5at Miami DolphinsSpread —Total —Sun 10/11 · 1:00 PM
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- Wk 6Bye week
- Wk 7at Baltimore RavensSpread —Total —Sun 10/25 · 1:00 PM
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- Wk 8vs Tennessee TitansSpread —Total —Sun 11/1 · 1:00 PM
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- Wk 9vs Atlanta Falcons (Madrid)Spread —Total —Sun 11/8 · 9:30 AM
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- Wk 10vs Pittsburgh SteelersSpread —Total —Sun 11/15 · 8:20 PM
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- Wk 11at Washington CommandersSpread —Total —Mon 11/23 · 8:15 PM
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- Wk 12vs New Orleans SaintsSpread —Total —Sun 11/29 · 1:00 PM
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- Wk 13at Cleveland BrownsSpread —Total —Sun 12/6 · 1:00 PM
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- Wk 14vs Kansas City ChiefsSpread —Total —Sun 12/13 · 4:25 PM
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- Wk 15at Carolina PanthersSpread —Total —Sun 12/20 · 1:00 PM
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- Wk 16at Indianapolis ColtsSpread —Total —
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- Wk 17vs Baltimore RavensSpread —Total —Thu 12/31 · 8:15 PM
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- Wk 18vs Cleveland BrownsSpread —Total —
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Every game gets a JustJ pick — ATS side and total. Posted numbers are used the moment books hang them; until then the pick is quoted on the JustJ line and refreshes each week.
Schedule & market notes
- Bye: Week 6 — an early bye — a long back half of the season with no scheduled rest.
- Short-week / non-Sunday games: 1 Thursday, 1 Monday — short-rest games carry their own well-documented ATS variance, worth flagging on your calendar as they approach.
- International game(s): Week 9 vs Atlanta Falcons (Madrid) — a true road game with no home-field advantage and real short-week/travel logistics even when technically the “home” team.
53-MAN ROSTER
Handicapping
Betting profile — vs. the number
2025 ATS
8-9
47.1% cover rate — 18th of 32
2025 Straight up
6-11
Point differential -78
Scoring environment
53.3
Combined points per game — 2nd highest of 32
Home venue
Turf
Paycor Stadium
Points scored / allowed
24.4 per game scored (12th) · 28.9 allowed (30th)
Margin & schedule
Margin of victory -4.6 (26th) · Strength of schedule -0.5
- Trend: The Dexter Lawrence trade addition upgrades a defensive front that finished near the bottom of the league — a real swing factor for Cincinnati's defensive numbers.
- Trend: Cincinnati returns all five offensive line starters for the first time since 2010, per team reporting — real continuity behind Joe Burrow and a passing attack that should again be prolific.
Power ratings — strength against the field
SRS power rating
-5.1
26th of 32 — projected points vs. a league-average team on a neutral field
Offensive SRS
+1.2
13th of 32
Defensive SRS
-6.4
30th of 32
Points (margin of victory)
-4.6 · 26th of 32
Against the spread
8-9 (47.1%) · 18th of 32
Totals (combined PPG)
53.3 · 2nd of 32
Turnover differential -3 · 2025 results, Just J Football Companion / Pro-Football-Reference.
Power ratings & 2025 results
- 2025 record: 6-11-0 — Points For 414, Points Against 492 (differential -78).
- Margin of Victory: -4.6 pts/game — the average scoring margin across all 2025 games, win or lose.
- Strength of Schedule (SoS): -0.5 — Pro-Football-Reference's SRS-based measure of 2025 opponent quality; positive means a tougher slate than average.
- SRS (power rating): -5.1 — Simple Rating System score, which converts directly to a projected point spread on a neutral field against a leagueaverage team.
- Offensive SRS: +1.2 · Defensive SRS: -6.4 — the SRS power rating split into offensive and defensive components; higher offensive and higher defensive figures are both better.
- Turnover differential: -3 — total takeaways minus giveaways across the 2025 season, one of the more volatile year-to-year metrics and worth weighing against the rest of this profile rather than on its own.
League-wide unit ranks
Offensive Line
20
Defensive Line / Front Seven
8
Traded for Dexter Lawrence (84.5 pass-rush grade); added Boye Mafe to replace departed Hendrickson
Linebackers
31
Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. were two of the six lowest-graded LBs in the NFL
Defensive Backs / Secondary
—
Special Teams
—
Kicker: Evan McPherson
Overall Offense
13
Offensive SRS: +1.2
Overall Defense
30
Defensive SRS: -6.4
Handicapping notes
- Turf: Paycor Stadium — 2025: 6-11 straight-up, 8-9 against the spread.
- : The Dexter Lawrence trade addition upgrades a defensive front that finished near the bottom of the league — a real swing factor for Cincinnati's defensive numbers.
- : Cincinnati returns all five offensive line starters for the first time since 2010, per team reporting — real continuity behind Joe Burrow and a passing attack that should again be prolific.
Pro Bowlers
- Offense: QB Joe Burrow, QB Joe Flacco, WR Ja'Marr Chase (First-team All-Pro), WR Tee Higgins
- Defense: None.
Coaches
Coaching staff
Head Coach
Zac Taylor
8th season
Offensive Coordinator
Dan Pitcher
3rd season
Offensive Line Coach
Scott Peters
Defensive Coordinator
Al Golden
2nd season
Defensive Line Coach
Jerry Montgomery
Offense
Offensive unit ranks
Offensive Line Rank
28/32
Sharp Football Analysis, 2026 preseason
Key skill players
- QB1Joe BurrowQB6
- RB1Chase BrownRB12
- WR1Ja'Marr ChaseWR2
- WR2Tee HigginsWR24
- TE1Mike Gesickioutside the top 25 TEs
- TEAM DEFENSE (D/ST)Bengals D/ST
Key Offensive Line
LT Orlando Brown Jr.Oklahoma
2 yr / $32M extension (2026); ~$16M AAV. 9th NFL season; a 4x Pro Bowler who signed his original Bengals deal (4 yr/$64M) in 2023.
RG Dylan FairchildGeorgia
still on his rookie contract (2025 3rd-round pick). 2nd NFL season; posted the 4th-highest PFF grade among rookie offensive linemen in 2025.
RT Amarius MimsGeorgia
still on his rookie contract (2024 1st-round pick). 3rd NFL season; played all 17 games in 2025, allowing just a 5.3% pressure rate.
Defense
Defensive unit ranks
Defensive Line Rank (front seven)
26/32
Sharp Football Analysis, 2026 preseason
Defensive efficiency
- 6.2 yards allowed per play, 32th of 32.
- 20.9% pressure rate generated (blitzed on 16.6% of dropbacks), 23th of 32.
- 42.3% opponent drive scoring rate — a below-average mark.
- 12.0% opponent drive turnover rate — roughly league-average.
- 170 missed tackles on the season.
Key Defensive Line
DT Dexter Lawrence IIClemson
acquired via trade from the Giants (2026) and extended for 1 yr / $28M. 8th NFL season; a 3x Pro Bowler and one of the league's premier interior disruptors.
DT Jonathan AllenAlabama
2 yr free-agent signing through 2027. 10th NFL season; a former Pro Bowler brought in to further upgrade Cincinnati's interior.
Edge Boye MafeMinnesota
3 yr contract through 2028 (2026 free-agent signing). 5th NFL season; now the primary edge presence after Trey Hendrickson's departure to Baltimore.
Key Linebackers
LB Demetrius Knight Jr.South Carolina
still on his rookie contract (2025 2nd-round pick). 2nd NFL season; started 14 games as a rookie with 106 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions.
LB Barrett CarterClemson
still on his rookie contract (2025 4th-round pick). 2nd NFL season; started 12 games as a rookie with 102 tackles.
LB Oren BurksVanderbilt
veteran free-agent signing (2025); 8th NFL season. Started 9 games in 2025 and provides experienced depth behind Cincinnati's young linebacker duo.
Key Defensive Backs
CB DJ Turner IIMichigan
still on his rookie-era extension window (2023 2nd-round pick). 4th NFL season; Cincinnati's CB1 in coverage.
CB Cam Taylor-BrittNebraska
still on his rookie-era extension window (2022 2nd-round pick). 5th NFL season; a physical, competitive corner opposite Turner.
S Bryan CookCincinnati
3 yr contract through 2028 (2026 free-agent signing). 5th NFL season; a homecoming signing for the alum of the University of Cincinnati. A FC NOR TH CINCINNATI BENGALS
Fantasy
Projected fantasy points per game · 2026
Standard 12-team scoring (non-PPR): 1 pt / 25 pass yds, 4 pts pass TD, -2 INT, 1 pt / 10 rush+rec yds, 6 pts TD, -2 fumble lost. Projections are modeled from each player's 2026 positional rank.
| Player | Rank | Proj FPPG | Proj season | Actual FPPG | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB1 Joe Burrow | QB6Starter | 19.9 | 338 | — | — |
| RB1 Chase Brown | RB12Starter | 14.9 | 253 | — | — |
| WR1 Ja'Marr Chase | WR2Starter | 16.3 | 277 | — | — |
| WR2 Tee Higgins | WR24Starter | 11.4 | 194 | — | — |
| TE1 Mike Gesicki | outside the top 25 TEs | — | — | — | — |
| TEAM DEFENSE (D/ST) Bengals D/ST | — | — | — | — | — |
Season fantasy tracker
Weekly fantasy scoring for these players appears here once 2026 games go final — each week's points are graded in standard 12-team scoring and rolled into the actual FPPG above.
Environment
- Home games: outdoor stadium — late-season (Dec./Jan.) home dates carry real weather risk for passing-game and kicking volume.
- Road dome/retractable-roof games: ideal weather-neutral spots for maximum fantasy production: Wk 2 (Houston Texans), Wk 16 (Indianapolis Colts).
- 2025 recap: Injuries limited Joe Burrow's availability, but Ja'Marr Chase remained a top-3 fantasy WR and Chase Brown emerged as a legitimate three-down back.
- 2026 projection: A healthy Burrow returns to elite fantasy QB1 form behind a fully intact offensive line. Chase remains a top-3 WR lock. Higgins is a high-floor WR2 in one of the league's most explosive passing games.
- Joe Burrow: Pro: elite arm talent behind a now fully-retained offensive line. Con: injury history is a real, recurring concern.
- Ja'Marr Chase: Pro: a true elite WR1 with target volume in any game state. Con: minimal — about as safe a top-3 pick as fantasy offers.
- Chase Brown: Pro: full three-down role with real receiving work. Con: touchdown competition in the passing-heavy red zone with Chase and Higgins around. A FC NOR TH CINCINNATI BENGALS
NOTES
No notes on CINCINNATI BENGALS yet.