The Cincinnati Bengals will open their 2026 NFL season in what is expected to be an exhilarating game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This was revealed by NFL insider Jordan Schultz ahead of the league’s official release of the full schedule for the upcoming season on Thursday.
The matchup immediately sparked reactions among fans across social media, with many visualizing the level of entertainment the game is bound to offer. It’s a clash between two quarterbacks who entered the league as No. 1 picks and are both looking to brush off the disappointment of 2025.
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Both Cincinnati and Tampa Bay missed out on playoff football last season, and the game is an opportunity for the two to set the tone for the new season. It was the Bucs’ first playoff miss in five seasons, while the Bengals made it a streak of three seasons without postseason football.
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The two teams last met during the 2022 season, with the Bengals securing a 34-23 win over the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. They’ve squared up 13 times in the history of the NFL, with the Bengals leading the series with a 7-6 record.
Social media reaction to the Week 1 game ranged from excitement to anticipation, down to nervousness. Fans are waiting to see the Bengals’ electric offense face the Buccaneers’ physical defense in a compelling early-season encounter.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions online:
Update: The Bengals’ full 2026 schedule
Here’s the Bengals’ schedule for the 2026 NFL season as released by the NFL on Thursday night.
Preseason schedule
Week 1: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles
Regular Season Schedule
Week 1: Sept. 13 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
Week 2: Sept. 20 at Houston Texans – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Week 3: Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Steelers – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Week 4: Oct. 4 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Week 5: Oct. 11 at Miami Dolphins – 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: Oct. 25 at Baltimore Ravens – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Week 8: Nov. 1 vs. Tennessee Titans – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Week 9: Nov. 8 vs. Atlanta Falcons (Madrid) – 9:30 a.m. ET (NFL Network)
Week 10: Nov. 15 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Week 11: Nov. 23 at Washington Commanders – 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Week 12: Nov. 29 vs. New Orleans Saints – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Week 13: Dec. 6 at Cleveland Browns – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
Week 14: Dec. 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs – 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
Week 15: Dec. 20 at Carolina Panthers – 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts – TBD
Week 17: Dec. 31 vs. Baltimore Ravens – 8:15 p.m. ET (Amazon)
Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns – TBD
Edited by Farouk Yusuf



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