Ever since Joe Burrow was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, the AFC North team has had hopes of deep playoff runs and perhaps even a Super Bowl by now. But each season has come and gone, and the Bengals failed to qualify for the postseason for the third year running after posting a 6-11 record.
The 2025-26 NFL season started with the Bengals having already signed wide receiver duo Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to new record-breaking extensions in their respective positions. They were also successful in bringing back their best defensive player, Trey Hendrickson, for another year, while Burrow started the season healthy.
But it didn’t take long for Cincy’s season to go south. Burrow missed multiple games starting from Week 2 when he sustained a turf toe injury, and the Bengals quickly fell to 3-6 before their bye week. And while Burrow made a return against the Ravens in Week 13, the writing was already on the wall.
Not only did the backup quarterbacks, Jake Browning and Joe Flacco, struggle to get the offense going, but the defense made things all the more difficult. The Bengals’ defense finished 31st in the league, averaging 380.9 total yards per game, and 30th in the league, allowing 28.9 points per game.
Cincinnati Bengals Total Wins Over/Under Odds for 2026-27 Regular Season
After finishing the previous season with only 6 wins and 11 losses, the Cincinnati Bengals are favored to win under 10 games in the upcoming 2026-27 NFL season, as per the odds via DraftKings.
The table below shows the Over/Under for the Bengals’ total wins in the upcoming regular season.
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The Bengals are a classic example of an unbalanced side. The offense possesses several playmakers capable of winning games by themselves, while the defense has little to no spark at all.
This offseason will be extremely crucial for the Bengals as they need to address plenty of holes on defense, such as the interior D-line, the linebacker position, and the secondary. Furthermore, the AFC North, which has been a tight division over the past few years, might not be so tough in the upcoming season.
The Steelers are undergoing a head-coaching change, and there are also multiple roster spots they need to fill. With Aaron Rodgers’ future uncertain, this will be a major concern for Pittsburgh. As for the Browns, they are struggling mightily, especially on offense. The Ravens could be the only real threat in the division.
Additionally, Cincinnati has the advantage of the third-easiest strength of schedule, only behind the Browns and the Saints. Here is a look at the list of their opponents for the 2026-27 NFL season.
Cleveland Browns
Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh Steelers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans
Kansas City Chiefs
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Miami Dolphins
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Washington Commanders
In the upcoming season, the Bengals will be facing just 4 opponents that made the playoffs last season. That said, they also have some tough matchups against the likes of the Chiefs, Buccaneers, and Ravens. Some of the easier games could come against teams like the Saints, Titans, Dolphins, and Browns.
Early prediction: Bengals 2026-27 regular season record: 10-7
Cincinnati Bengals Major Injuries and Concerns going into 2026-27 NFL Season
Injuries
Looking at the Cincinnati Bengals roster, there aren’t too many massive concerns as far as injuries are concerned. Of course, the NFL season always takes a toll on players’ bodies, and that means multiple players were nursing injuries toward the end of the 2025-26 NFL season.
Defensive end Joseph Ossai (ankle), cornerback DJ Turner II (calf), and guard Cordell Volson (shoulder) are just some of the Bengals’ players who were carrying injuries near the end of the regular season. Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (foot) and tight end Erick All (Knee-ACL) are both questionable for training camp.
The good news, however, is that most, if not all, of the Bengals’ players are expected to be ready by training camp, and all should be healthy to go at the start of the 2026-27 NFL regular season.
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Roster concerns
Most of the Cincinnati Bengals’ needs during this offseason revolve around the defense. The core of the offense is already locked down with Burrow, Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Chase Brown running things on that side of the ball. The tight end room is also adept at making plays, with Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant leading the way.
The defense, however, is another matter. The Bengals have paid large amounts of money to Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, and that has left them with glaring issues on the other side of the ball.
First and foremost, the Bengals are getting ready to bid adieu to their best defensive player, Trey Hendrickson. The 31-year-old is not getting the deal he wants in Cincinnati and is therefore leaving for pastures new. The Bengals drafted Shemar Stewart as the replacement for Hendrickson, but the Bengals still need more on the edge. They were mid-table last season but had just 35 sacks in 17 games.
Cincinnati’s run defense was one of the worst in the league last season. In fact, they finished at the bottom of the league, allowing a little over 147 rushing yards per game. Bringing in an effective run-stopping interior D-linemen and linebackers is also a must.
And if that was not enough, the Bengals also allowed 233.8 passing yards per game to finish the season 26th in the league. Free safety Geno Stone may depart in free agency, while injury concerns mean the defensive backs room is lacking depth.
Last but not least, the offensive line continues to struggle as the Bengals have yet to find the answer when it comes to keeping the pocket clean for Joe Burrow. Last season, there was even speculation that Burrow might want out of Cincinnati after taking an enormous amount of hits throughout his career thus far. The Bengals need to find a way to keep their best player healthy if they are to have any chance of progressing to the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals NFL 2026-27 Draft Picks and how they can have an impact on the Total Over/Under Wins Odds
Currently, the Cincinnati Bengals hold a total of 7 to 8 draft picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft. Having finished the 2025 season with a 6-11 record, the Bengals will be in a great position to draft during the early rounds.
In fact, their first round pick will be the 10th overall selection, providing them with an excellent opportunity to grab one of the top draft picks from the 2026 draft class. Cincy will then be selecting with the number 41 pick in round 2 and the number 72 overall in round 3.
The Bengals will have the opportunity to add some strong players on the defensive side as they work towards improving the overall balance of the team. If they are able to land some quality picks from this draft, it may help add a couple more wins to their total wins in the upcoming season.
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I am a content writer for the NFL team, and joined The Playoffs after working with Sportskeeda and NFL Analysis as an NFL writer. After starting my professional career as a French-to-English translator, working as a content writer is a new adventure for me. I started out in the sports media field for two main reasons: my love for sports in general, especially the NFL, NBA, and Tennis, as well as my passion for writing. The best part of this job is that I get to write a variety of pieces with the freedom to explore content from various angles. It also enables me to stay up to date with the sporting world, which otherwise can be difficult to do in the day-to-day grind. In a world full of chaos, sports unite and entertain like nothing else!
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