NFL officials huddle as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play against the Atlanta Falcons during an NFL game Oct 9, 2022 in Tampa, Fla. The Bucs won 21 - 15. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Absence of travel
In terms of travel, the NFL schedule creators gave the Bengals a great service. The Bengals will have the second-fewest total miles to travel next season out of the 32 clubs in the league. Cincinnati will travel 10,611 miles total via 12 different time zones in their nine away games. The Washington Commanders are the only ones with a less overall distance to travel (10,550). That is made easier by the absence of an international match.
This year, the NFL schedule planners bestowed some very significant gifts onto the Cincinnati Bengals. Here are three more ways the NFL benefited the Bengals with the 2024 schedule, in addition to providing them with a significant strength-of-schedule advantage over their AFC North rivals.
When it comes to the timetable, travel is a topic that is frequently discussed. Teams that have to travel less are seen as having an advantage, while those that must travel more are seen as having a disadvantage. The Bengals should have a significant advantage in the 2024 NFL season if that is the case.
A good moment to say goodbye
The Bengals’ bye week was strategically placed in the 2024 calendar, another way the league benefited the franchise. Week 12 is the best time to have a bye, and that’s when Cincinnati had theirs. The Bengals will have played most of the season by then, and they will most likely be severely injured as a team.
They can take advantage of a Week 12 buy to recuperate ahead of the season’s last stretch and their anticipated postseason push. They will also require that rest because three of their remaining six games following the bye are against fellow AFC North rivals.
Passports are not required.
Next season, the Bengals won’t require their passports because they don’t have any scheduled international games. The Bengals won’t be playing in any of the five NFL games that will take place in three separate countries in 2024—Brazil, London, and Germany—which is probably a good thing. Fans from other nations have a great chance to witness their favorite teams and players up close at international games. but they can prove challenging for the participating teams, travel-wise.
