Breaking down the Cincinnati Bengals' opponents for the 2022 NFL season

The Cincinnati Bengals already know which teams they'll be playing in the upcoming season as well as where those games will be played. On Thursday night, when NFL will releases the full schedule for all teams at 8 p.m. ET, they'll find out how many times they'll play in prime time.

The NFL added a 17th game in 2021 and it was a home game for AFC teams. This year, it will be a road game for the Bengals as NFC teams will get to host nine games. The Bengals will play eight games at Paul Brown Stadium as they will also not be playing any international games.

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Based off the success the Bengals had last year and the popularity of young stars like quarterback Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, expect Cincinnati to be rewarded with a few prime-time games. NFL teams can have up to five prime-time games scheduled.

They are allowed six total in a season if they are flexed and can have seven if they are also flexed into a season finale prime-time spot. The final game of the regular season is typically a division game.

Here’s a look at who the Bengals will be playing at home and on the road:

Cincinnati Bengals 2022 home schedule

Atlanta Falcons

• 2021 record: 7-10

The Falcons are in re-build mode as the team moved on from longtime franchise quarterback Matt Ryan in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts. Marcus Mariota will enter the season as the starter with former University of Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder backing him up. Atlanta drafted wide receiver Drake London with the No. 8 overall pick. 

Baltimore Ravens

• 2021 record: 8-9

Baltimore and Cincinnati squared off for the division title last December and after three years of not being able to get a win over the Ravens, the Bengals came away with a season sweep in 2021. The Ravens were ravaged by injuries last year and hope to be back in playoff contention with a healthy roster. Baltimore traded wide receiver Hollywood Brown to the Cardinals and added several talented players through free agency and the draft, including safeties Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton. 

Buffalo Bills

• 2021 record: 11-6

Mark this down as a potential prime-time game as the Bills and Bengals enter the upcoming season as favorites to win the AFC. Josh Allen vs. Joe Burrow would draw eyeballs as two of the most talented, young quarterbacks in the league. The Bills lost to the Chiefs in the AFC divisional round last year and return most of their starters. Buffalo signed pass-rusher Von Miller in free agency while giving wide receiver Stefon Diggs an extension.

Carolina Panthers

• 2021 record: 5-12

The Panthers were one of the worst teams in the NFL last year and head coach Matt Rhule is on the hot seat this season. Carolina signed quarterback Sam Darnold in free agency last year and he didn't live up to expectations. The Panthers drafted Matt Coral in the third round as an option for a quarterback battle. Baker Mayfield has also been a named linked to the Panthers as a potential landing spot but his future is unknown. 

Cleveland Browns

• 2021 record: 8-9

Deshaun Watson is now QB1 in Cleveland. The Browns made a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans to get Watson giving him the first fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. Cleveland also looks different at wide receiver than year's past as Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry are no longer on the roster. The Browns added wide receiver Amari Cooper in free agency.

Kansas City Chiefs

• 2021 record: 12-5

A re-match of the AFC Championship Game. Patrick Mahomes and Co. will travel to Cincinnati for what is likely to be a prime-time matchup between two of the most exciting offensive attacks in the NFL. The Chiefs moved on from speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill and safety Tyrann Mathieu but added a familiar face in JuJu Smith-Schuster. Kansas City used its first two first-round picks in this year's draft on defensive players Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis.  

Miami Dolphins

• 2021 record: 9-8

The Dolphins have a new head coach in Mike McDaniel and made a splash within his first two months on the job. Miami traded with the Chiefs for Hill and are hoping under McDaniel's tutelage, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will take the next step. Wide reciever Jaylen Waddle had a stellar rookie season and with Hill on the other side, the Dolphins are loaded with speed. Cornerback Xavien Howard is one of the best ball-hawking defensive backs in the game. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

• 2021 record: 9-7-1

Who will be starting at quarterback when the Bengals face the Steelers? Pittsburgh is in a transition phase at the position after Ben Roethlisberger retired. Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett will compete for the starting quarterback role. The Steelers used the No. 20 overall pick to draft Pickett as they hope he is their future. Cincinnati swept the Steelers last season and their road win in Pittsburgh set the tone for what they could do. The Steelers spent most of their money in free agency on offensive linemen and cornerbacks. 

Cincinnati Bengals 2022 away schedule

Baltimore Ravens (see record above)

Cleveland Browns (see record above)

Pittsburgh Steelers (see record above)

Dallas Cowboys

• 2021 record: 12-5

Cincinnati travels to Dallas for the first time since 2016 and it will be a marquee matchup. The NFC East champions enter the season on a mission after an early home exit in the postseason last year. Dallas' defense took a big step under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and the play of rookie linebacker Micah Parsons was one of the highlights of the NFL season. Second-year cornerback Trevon Diggs recorded 11 interceptions and returned two for touchdowns and start defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence both return for another season with the Cowboys.

New England Patriots

• 2021 record: 10-7

The Mac Jones era has officially begun in New England. After a standout career at Alabama, the Patriots drafted Jones hoping he would get the team back in contention after the departure of Tom Brady. He did so in his rookie season helping the Patriots make the playoffs. Former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is now the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders and what the Patriots' offense will look like without him remains one of the biggest question marks heading into the season. 

New Orleans Saints

• 2021 record: 9-8

A homecoming for Chase and Burrow as several Saints fans who are also LSU fans will be excited to watch these Bengals. The Saints believe Jameis Winston will be healthy and ready to go for the start of the season after he tore his ACL in his first year as New Orleans' starter. Wide receiver Michael Thomas is also expected to be healthy and the Saints also drafted Chris Olave out of Ohio State. Running back Alvin Kamara remains a tough matchup year in and out. New Orleans' defense was one of the best in the NFL in 2021. 

New York Jets

• 2021 record: 4-13

When the Bengals traveled New Jersey in 2021, it didn't result in a positive trip for Cincinnati. The Bengals' loss to the Jets was one of the most disappointing performances of the year and it's likely going to be a game circled on their calendar. Most draft pundits believe the Jets had one of the best drafts this year and they've surrounded quarterback Zach Wilson with plenty of talent, including former Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah who signed with New York in free agency.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• 2021 record: 13-4

Tom Brady vs. Joe Burrow. Since arriving in the NFL, Burrow has drawn plenty of comparisons to Brady and now they'll get a chance to square off. The Bengals will travel to Tampa Bay to face one of the top teams in the NFC. After a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round, the Bucs are hoping to make another Super Bowl run with Brady. Tampa is loaded at the wide receiver position with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and with Todd Bowles as head coach, the Bucs' defense is expected to be a top unit yet again. 

Tennessee Titans

• 2021 record: 12-5

The Bengals went on the road and took down the AFC's No. 1 seed in Tennessee last year and it was certainly a game to remember. After being sacked nine times, Burrow and Co. were still able to find a way to overcome the Titans' pass rush to win and advance. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill recently admitted the loss to the Bengals was difficult to get over. Running back Derrick Henry returns but the Titans' wide receiver group will look different as A.J. Brown was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on draft weekend.