With Playoffs Looming, 2014 Opponents Set For Bengals
By Danny Cox
The Cincinnati Bengals are not one of those teams looking forward to next season because they're still alive in the playoffs and are looking ahead to their game with the San Diego Chargers. They are taking care of one thing at a time.
For those that want to take a glimpse of next year though, the Cincinnati Bengals' opponents for 2014 have been released and it does not look like things were made easy for them at all.
First of all, the Bengals have five teams on next year's schedule that are in the playoffs this season.
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- New England Patriots
- Denver Broncos
- Indianapolis Colts
There are a host of other teams such as Tennessee and Pittsburgh and Baltimore that all sniffed the playoffs but just missed them. Here is the full slate of games for the Bengals in 2014:
- Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
- Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After winning the AFC North, the Bengals know exactly who their opponents for 2014 are going to be. Being the top team in their division, they have to face off with the number one teams in both the AFC West and AFC East. Their divisional rotation also takes them into games against the NFC South and AFC South teams.
In that rotation, they will host two teams from those divisions and travel to the other two.
Looking through the historical numbers, the Bengals have winning records against a number of their 2014 opponents, but everyone knows that doesn't always mean a whole lot for how things are going to unfold.
It is a schedule like this that shows fans and teams that if you're going to be good and finish first, the NFL is going to make sure you prove it time and time again that you're good. The better you are, the bigger the challenge and competition will be for you in the future.
Cincinnati really had a great regular season in 2013 and they ended up as the AFC North champions. Now, they've got to show the world that they weren't a flash in the pan by taking on an even tougher schedule next season, and doing it all over again.
For more Bengals news and updates, visit Bengals Central.
Danny Cox knows a little something about the NFL, whether it means letting you know what penalty will come from the flag just thrown on the field or quickly spouting off who the Chicago Bears drafted in the first round of the 1987 draft (Jim Harbaugh). He plans on bringing you the best news, previews, recaps, and anything else that may come along with the exciting world of the National Football League. Danny is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
