After playing their first-ever game in Madrid, Spain, the Cincinnati Bengals will have to turn around and get ready for the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football.
The release of the Bengals’ 2026 schedule confirmed that the team will play its first scheduled primetime game one week after an international game.
Many had assumed Cincinnati would get its bye in Week 10 after playing in Spain. Its bye, instead, comes in Week 6.
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The Bengals also are scheduled to face the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football in Week 11, and will host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, December 31, in a New Year’s Eve game.
Bengals’ 2026 NFL schedule released
Week 1 Sun., Sept. 13, TAMPA BAY, 1 p.m., FOX
Week 2 Sun., Sept. 20, at Houston, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 3 Sun., Sept. 27, at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 4 Sun., Oct. 4, JACKSONVILLE, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 5 Sun., Oct. 11, at Miami, 1 p.m., FOX
Week 6 Sun., Oct. 18, bye
Week 7 Sun., Oct. 25, at Baltimore, 1 p.m. CBS
Week 8 Sun., Nov. 1, TENNESSEE, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 9 Sun., Nov. 8, vs. Atlanta (Madrid, Spain), 9:30 a.m., NFL Network
Week 10 Sun., Nov. 15, PITTSBURGH, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Week 11 Mon., Nov. 23, at Washington, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
Week 12 Sun., Nov. 29, NEW ORLEANS, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 13 Sun., Dec. 6, at Cleveland, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 14 Sun., Dec. 13, KANSAS CITY, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Week 15 Sun., Dec. 20, at Carolina, 1 p.m., FOX
Week 16 (Sat./Sun., Dec. 26/27), at Indianapolis, (time TBD), (TV network TBD)
Week 17 Thu., Dec. 31, BALTIMORE*, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video
Week 18 (Sat./Sun., Jan. 9/10), CLEVELAND, (time TBD), (TV network TBD)
Social media reactions, including the video from the Bengals:
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals get Steelers on SNF after Madrid | Schedule release reactions
Reporting by Dave Clark, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
