Schedule release confirms Bengals are the big winners of offseason, says NY Post’s Adam Schein

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 26: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals participates in a drill during training camp at Kettering Health Practice Fields on July 26, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cincinnati Bengals have been active and unconventional this offseason.

They've done things fans have been seeking from them for years.

And now they're getting recognized for it.

Most recently, Adam Schein, host of the New York Post's Schein Time" has named the Bengals his winners of the 2026 offseason.

I've been in love all season," he began in a post. But I think the big winner after NFL schedule release... The 2026 Cincinnati Bengals."

I've been in love all off-season...

But I think the big winner after NFL schedule release...

The 2026 Cincinnati Bengals.

- Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) May 15, 2026

Schein didn't provide much reason as to why he feels this way in the post.

But Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano went into more detail in a piece he wrote about the winners and losers of the schedule release.

Vacchiano noted that injuries to Joe Burrow and slow starts have hurt the Bengals in recent years. With Burrow currently healthy, they're set up for a decent start and an incredibly strong finish".

The analyst said the Bengals have semi-easy wins" in the form of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Miami Dolphins in their first five games.

But it's what happens from Week 8 on where the magic occurs," Vacchiano continued. They face just two teams that are projected to finish above .500 in their final 12 games, and they get both of those - December games against the Chiefs and the Ravens - at home. They also will play each of their first seven games at 1 p.m. on Sundays, too."

Others have taken note of how Cincinnati is better positioned to compete this year. Steve Palazzolo and Sam Monson put the Bengals among this offseason's winners. Among other things, they like how the team went out and fixed their defensive line.