Cincinnati Bengals' 2025 opponents finalized with nine home games on the docket

The third-place teams set to face Cincinnati next year are the Cardinals, Broncos, and Jaguars. The Cardinals will be the Bengals' extra NFC opponent since the AFC North played the NFC West a year ago and both teams finished third in their division. This is how the NFL decides which teams will play in their 17th game (not chronologically).

That Cardinals matchup is slated to be in Paycor Stadium for now, but it could very well be an international game when it's all said and done. The NFL is pushing for up to eight international matchups next year and the Bengals are very due for traveling outside the country. The last international game they had was in 2019 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Outside of their divisional rivals, the only teams on the Bengals' 2025 schedule that also played them this year are the Broncos and Patriots. The Bengals beat the Broncos this past weekend to keep their season alive. They lost to the Patriots to begin the season when Jocoby Brissett was still the quarterback. Drake Maye will be waiting for them next year. 

Speaking of quarterbacks, the Bengals will face both of the current MVP favorites next year in Josh Allen of the Bills and Lamar Jackson of the Ravens twice. Expect at least two of those games to draw a national broadcast.

We'll learn when these games will played in May when the full NFL schedule is released.