The Cincinnati Bengals have missed the NFL playoffs in each of the last two seasons, in both of which they posted 9-8 records.
In the 2024 NFL season, the Bengals were hurt by a brutal start, losing four of their first five games. It was not until a Week 4 game against the Carolina Panthers that Cincy scored its first win.
And since Zac Taylor took over as the Bengals’ head coach, they have managed to put together just a 1-11 record in games during the first two weeks of the season. Additionally, the Bengals have gone just 4-13-1 in the first three weeks of a season in the Taylor era.
Taylor recently dropped a hint about a possible change for the Bengals to combat such slow starts, and it’s about playing key starters in the preseason.
“The one thing I do feel good about is playing our guys in the preseason, Taylor said, per Ben Baby of ESPN. “That’s always subject to change, depending on health and how things go with our team during training camp, but that’s one thing that we’ve openly talked about with our players, and I think will help us as we do it.”
Cincinnati Bengals 2025 NFL preseason schedule

The Bengals have three games scheduled in the upcoming preseason.
They will play the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 7 and the Washington Commanders on Aug. 18, both on the road, in Week 1 and Week 2, respectively.
In Week 3, Cincinnati will host the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 23.

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