I was just looking at our schedule. I missed my earlier looks that we have 2 quick turnaround Sunday and then Thursday games.

I worry as hard to play one 4 days turn around and we have 2.

I have never noticed 2 Thursday night games in the past. Is this new?

Both are 2 AFCN games, first Ravens and then Browns.

Does it concern anyone?

(07-09-2024, 11:42 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I have never noticed 2 Thursday night games in the past. Is this new?

The NFL approved allowing teams to play 2 Thursday games prior to the start of last season. I think some or all of the reasoning for that was to keep Amazon happy because they paid a lot of money for the rights and the NFL wants to do as much as possible to have quality teams playing those games. Allowing or should I say forcing better teams to play two Thursday games increases the odds of better games.

(07-09-2024, 12:44 PM)George Cantstandya Wrote: The NFL approved allowing teams to play 2 Thursday games prior to the start of last season.  I think some or all of the reasoning for that was to keep Amazon happy because they paid a lot of money for the rights and the NFL wants to do as much as possible to have quality teams playing those games.  Allowing or should I say forcing better teams to play two Thursday games increases the odds of better games.

I understand why the NFL wants the increased exclusive exposure, revenue. However, I can foresee this being a hotly debated topic at the next CBA negotiation.

(07-09-2024, 04:50 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I understand why the NFL wants the increased exclusive exposure, revenue. However, I can foresee this being a hotly debated topic at the next CBA negotiation.

I think the league will have to concede to multiple bye weeks for each team if they want the union to concede to 18 games.  I mean, it will extend the season even further, meaning even more broadcast revenue dollars.  I think the best way to deal with it is having the TNF teams each have a bye the previous week, meaning no short turnarounds.

(07-09-2024, 12:44 PM)George Cantstandya Wrote: The NFL approved allowing teams to play 2 Thursday games prior to the start of last season.  I think some or all of the reasoning for that was to keep Amazon happy because they paid a lot of money for the rights and the NFL wants to do as much as possible to have quality teams playing those games.  Allowing or should I say forcing better teams to play two Thursday games increases the odds of better games.

TY for the info.

My concern is why did NFL have us do 2 AFCN games on a Thursday?

Why not one of them after our bye week?

It just appears the NFL was not kind with our scheduling. I know all teams probably have gripes also.

In the end, we have to navigate the early part of our schedule as we have a lot of AFCN games in second half of year.

(07-09-2024, 05:49 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: TY for the info.

My concern is why did NFL have us do 2 AFCN games on a Thursday?

Why not one of them after our bye week?

It just appears the NFL was not kind with our scheduling. I know all teams probably have gripes also.

In the end, we have to navigate the early part of our schedule as we have a lot of AFCN games in second half of year.

We are traditional slow starters... Might be a good thing to have those division games back loaded.

(07-09-2024, 05:49 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: TY for the info.

My concern is why did NFL have us do 2 AFCN games on a Thursday?

Why not one of them after our bye week?

It just appears the NFL was not kind with our scheduling. I know all teams probably have gripes also.

In the end, we have to navigate the early part of our schedule as we have a lot of AFCN games in second half of year.

No schedule is perfect for any team, but the 2024 Bengals schedule is as close as it gets.....

- Bottom 5 strength of schedule
- VERY few travel miles compared to what could have been.
- NO long travel road trips back back to back
- Longest road trip is SD.... ON 10 DAYS REST!
- 3/4 of their first games are against 2 rookie QBs & 1 2nd year QB.


On paper (which is all we have at the moment), this is the most forgiving, least taxing, best setup to start fast possible.

Any downsides on this schedule are minor compared to the above gifts.

4 of their 1st 6 games are against bad and/or teams in complete disarray. There's no gauntlet of teams on the middle or backend where it's a bunch of championship caliber QBs on road trips to either coast.

This is a dream sched for the Bengals.

(07-09-2024, 11:42 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I was just looking at our schedule. I missed my earlier looks that we have 2 quick turnaround Sunday and then Thursday games.

I worry as hard to play one 4 days turn around and we have 2.

I have never noticed 2 Thursday night games in the past. Is this new?

Both are 2 AFCN games, first Ravens and then Browns.

Does it concern anyone?

so many games now on prime time schedules, this happening for often.. im still rather be us than KC, they play everyday in the week but one..WTF.... that is so crazy

(07-09-2024, 07:47 PM)PDub80 Wrote: No schedule is perfect for any team, but the 2024 Bengals schedule is as close as it gets.....

- Bottom 5 strength of schedule
- VERY few travel miles compared to what could have been.
- NO long travel road trips back back to back
- Longest road trip is SD.... ON 10 DAYS REST!
- 3/4 of their first games are against 2 rookie QBs & 1 2nd year QB.


On paper (which is all we have at the moment), this is the most forgiving, least taxing, best setup to start fast possible.

Any downsides on this schedule are minor compared to the above gifts.

4 of their 1st 6 games are against bad and/or teams in complete disarray. There's no gauntlet of teams on the middle or backend where it's a bunch of championship caliber QBs on road trips to either coast.

This is a dream sched for the Bengals.

Yeah, this is about the best sched we have had in forever. If we cannot start fast with this one there is a problem.

Actual Strength of Schedule 2024:

Rank Team Opp. Record Opp. Win Pct.
1 Cleveland Browns 158-131-0 0.547
2 Baltimore Ravens 155-134-0 0.536
3 Pittsburgh Steelers 154-135-0 0.533
4 Green Bay Packers 152-137-0 0.526
4 Houston Texans 152-137-0 0.526
6 Buffalo Bills 149-140-0 0.516
6 New York Giants 149-140-0 0.516
8 New England Patriots 148-141-0 0.512
8 Jacksonville Jaguars 148-141-0 0.512
8 Las Vegas Raiders 148-141-0 0.512
11 Detroit Lions 147-142-0 0.509
12 Los Angeles Rams 146-143-0 0.505
12 San Francisco 49ers 146-143-0 0.505
12 Dallas Cowboys 146-143-0 0.505
12 New York Jets 146-143-0 0.505
16 Kansas City Chiefs 145-144-0 0.502
16 Washington Commanders 145-144-0 0.502
16 Cincinnati Bengals 145-144-0 0.502
16 Minnesota Vikings 145-144-0 0.502
20 Denver Broncos 143-146-0 0.495
21 Tennessee Titans 142-147-0 0.491
21 Indianapolis Colts 142-147-0 0.491
21 Philadelphia Eagles 142-147-0 0.491
24 Miami Dolphins 141-148-0 0.488
24 Seattle Seahawks 141-148-0 0.488
24 Arizona Cardinals 141-148-0 0.488
27 Los Angeles Chargers 138-151-0 0.478
27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 138-151-0 0.478
29 Carolina Panthers 135-154-0 0.467
29 Chicago Bears 135-154-0 0.467
31 Atlanta Falcons 131-158-0 0.453
31 New Orleans Saints 131-158-0 0.453

(07-10-2024, 09:34 PM)Joelist Wrote: Actual Strength of Schedule 2024:

Rank Team Opp. Record Opp. Win Pct.
1 Cleveland Browns 158-131-0 0.547
2 Baltimore Ravens 155-134-0 0.536
3 Pittsburgh Steelers 154-135-0 0.533
4 Green Bay Packers 152-137-0 0.526
4 Houston Texans 152-137-0 0.526
6 Buffalo Bills 149-140-0 0.516
6 New York Giants 149-140-0 0.516
8 New England Patriots 148-141-0 0.512
8 Jacksonville Jaguars 148-141-0 0.512
8 Las Vegas Raiders 148-141-0 0.512
11 Detroit Lions 147-142-0 0.509
12 Los Angeles Rams 146-143-0 0.505
12 San Francisco 49ers 146-143-0 0.505
12 Dallas Cowboys 146-143-0 0.505
12 New York Jets 146-143-0 0.505
16 Kansas City Chiefs 145-144-0 0.502
16 Washington Commanders 145-144-0 0.502
16 Cincinnati Bengals 145-144-0 0.502
16 Minnesota Vikings 145-144-0 0.502
20 Denver Broncos 143-146-0 0.495
21 Tennessee Titans 142-147-0 0.491
21 Indianapolis Colts 142-147-0 0.491
21 Philadelphia Eagles 142-147-0 0.491
24 Miami Dolphins 141-148-0 0.488
24 Seattle Seahawks 141-148-0 0.488
24 Arizona Cardinals 141-148-0 0.488
27 Los Angeles Chargers 138-151-0 0.478
27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 138-151-0 0.478
29 Carolina Panthers 135-154-0 0.467
29 Chicago Bears 135-154-0 0.467
31 Atlanta Falcons 131-158-0 0.453
31 New Orleans Saints 131-158-0 0.453

There are many ways to dissect the schedule. The traditional list you give here is the simplest, but other, deeper, formulas are used to more accurately predict the actual strength of schedule.

The NFL roster and coaching changes so much year after year, I think it's too simple to just look at the previous seasons results and think the teams are going to be similar....

I found this article (Bengals ranked 6th easiest sched) to be really interesting
https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/analysis/nfl-strength-of-schedule/

Profootball Network has the Bengals at 4th easiest in this article here https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-strength-of-schedule/

Of course they are. I would note also that with the NFL scheduling formula nowadays all 4 teams in a division will have the exact same opponents for 10 out of their 17 games minimum. And most of the rest are also the same. For example 15 out of our 17 opponents are the same as the Stains - the differences are we play Titans and Panthers and they play Saints and Jaguars. Yet profootballnetwork says we are 4th easiest and they are 4th hardest. If you look at our schedule versus that of the Stealers and likewise the Rats the same thing is present; 15 opponents are the same with two differences.

(07-09-2024, 07:47 PM)PDub80 Wrote: No schedule is perfect for any team, but the 2024 Bengals schedule is as close as it gets.....

- Bottom 5 strength of schedule
- VERY few travel miles compared to what could have been.
- NO long travel road trips back back to back
- Longest road trip is SD.... ON 10 DAYS REST!
- 3/4 of their first games are against 2 rookie QBs & 1 2nd year QB.


On paper (which is all we have at the moment), this is the most forgiving, least taxing, best setup to start fast possible.

Any downsides on this schedule are minor compared to the above gifts.

4 of their 1st 6 games are against bad and/or teams in complete disarray. There's no gauntlet of teams on the middle or backend where it's a bunch of championship caliber QBs on road trips to either coast.

This is a dream sched for the Bengals.

There is no such thing as an easy schedule in the AFC North.

(07-12-2024, 11:37 PM)Synric Wrote: There is no such thing as an easy schedule in the AFC North.

True, but what is nice about this schedule is that we don't start out right out of the gate playing the AFC North this season like we have had to
the last few. We could actually start out fast and build up confidence going into these games this year with a healthy Joe Burrow.

(07-12-2024, 11:37 PM)Synric Wrote: There is no such thing as an easy schedule in the AFC North.

That's fair on the surface, but it's all relative. Relative to the rest of the division, the Bengals have the easiest schedule. Relative to the AFC, the Bengals have one of the easiest schedules.

Are you ok with that statement?

(07-13-2024, 03:55 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: True, but what is nice about this schedule is that we don't start out right out of the gate playing the AFC North this season like we have had to
the last few. We could actually start out fast and build up confidence going into these games this year with a healthy Joe Burrow.

Yep! Starting the season with divisional games like we have in the past had us playing hyper critical games exactly when we were not ready (due to not enough snaps). So we started the season in the hole. This way we can hopefully be 1-1 at worst out of the first two which is a far better spot to be in. 

(07-09-2024, 11:42 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Does it concern anyone?

I look for the positive, this way Bengals also have two games with extra long preparation time. Also, we probably lose to the Browns in any case for whatever reason, might as well get a Thursday game out of the way while doing so.

(07-09-2024, 11:42 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Does it concern anyone?

Yes.  Would rather not have 2 Thursday night games after Sunday like this.  Injury risk!

(07-14-2024, 09:20 PM)PDub80 Wrote: That's fair on the surface, but it's all relative. Relative to the rest of the division, the Bengals have the easiest schedule. Relative to the AFC, the Bengals have one of the easiest schedules.

Are you ok with that statement?

Nope. 

(07-15-2024, 12:30 PM)Synric Wrote: Nope. 

I read this in a Bart Simpson voice. Ha!