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Latest Bengals 2025 schedule release predictions include a trip overseas and starting the year with a critical task
© Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

It's the heart of the NFL offseason, but the Shield always makes sure there's something to talk about. This week is all about the upcoming schedule release.

The Cincinnati Bengals know exactly which teams they'll face in the 2025 regular season. They have 17 games against teams from the AFC East, NFL North, a couple of third-place clubs, and of course six games against the AFC North. Cincinnati just needs to find out when these games will take place, which is what this week is all about. 

The NFL will slowly reveal aspects of the schedule in the early portions of this week with the full release culminating Wednesday evening. Before that happens, here are some predictions for the Bengals' 2025 schedule release. 

1. Week 1 will feature Bengals vs an AFC North rival 

Starting the season on the right foot remains a task the Bengals haven't accomplished since 2021, the only year in the Zac Taylor Cincinnati won its season-opener. The schedule makers know this, and they could easily put one of the team's six divisional games in this slot to add intrigue and pressure. 

The Bengals have opened against their division rivals twice in the last three seasons. They hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers to kick off 2022, and visited the Cleveland Browns to start 2023. They surprisingly did not have an AFC North matchup in the first four weeks of the 2024 season. Jumping into the divisional race in Week 1 would make up for that.

Expect this game to be played on the road as well. The Cincinnati Reds are in town Sunday, September 7, so the league will ensure the city doesn't get overwhelmed with spectators attending both games on the same day. 

2. Bengals at Bills will be a Sunday late window kickoff on CBS

There will be a handful of primetime games for the Bengals to play this season, and Cincinnati taking on the Buffalo Bills under the lights in Orchard Park makes a ton of sense. Joe Burrow vs Josh Allen will be a quarterback battle that garners plenty of attention from around the league.

This is exactly why CBS will want to keep it on their station.

The Bengals aren't facing the Kansas City Chiefs this year. That matchup has been a consistent hit for the network every season since 2021. The Bills are the closest AFC team to the Chiefs on the Bengals' schedule aside from the Baltimore Ravens. 

Knowing how well the Bengals rate for them in these marquee AFC showdowns, this feels like a 4:25 kickoff with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on the call.

3. Bengals will be the visiting team facing the Dolphins in Spain

We know the Miami Dolphins will be the host team for the NFL's first-ever game in Madrid, Spain, and we know the Bengals are one of the Dolphins' home opponents. It's simply a matter of deduction at this point. 

Cincinnati has not traveled overseas to play since 2019, making them extremely overdue for an international game. This is the final one on the docket that's up for grabs and actually makes sense in terms of a matchup. The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing in Ireland, but a divisional matchup for an international tilt is highly unlikely. 

Burrow taking on his former college rival Tua Tagovailoa in a completely new environment for both of them would be a great storyline. Burrow himself wants it to happen as well!  

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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