The time has come to discuss the road the Cincinnati Bengals must take to reach Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.

The NFL officially announced schedules for all teams, and Dave Lapham In The Trenches, presented by First Star Logistics, gives his early thoughts on what the Bengals will face as two-time defending AFC North Champions.

Like last season, the Bengals will open against an AFC North rival; however, this season, it will be on the road against the Cleveland Browns, never an easy place for Joe Burrow and the Bengals to try and win a game.

Fans will learn early about this edition of the Bengals led by head coach Zac Taylor as Week Two of the season will see another North rival, the Baltimore Ravens, come to Paycor Stadium.

The success of Burrow and the Bengals over the past two seasons has many wanting to see the Bengals' explosive offense in action, and the NFL placed the Bengals in two Monday Night Football slots to go with Thursday night and Sunday night national games.

The list of quarterbacks Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will have to scheme against is impressive, led by Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Add in the likes of Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville), Josh Allen (Buffalo), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore), Deshaun Watson (Cleveland), Matthew Stafford (LA Rams), and Kirk Cousins (Minnesota), and the possibility of facing rookie signal callers C.J. Stroud (Houston), Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis), and Will Levis (Tennessee) mean a lot of exciting games. 

So sit back and enjoy as Lapham takes a look at what should be another exciting season of Cincinnati Bengals football.

THE 2023 CINCINNATI BENGALS SCHEDULE

WEEK 1: @ CLEVELAND BROWNSWEEK 2:  BALTIMORE RAVENSWEEK 3: LA RAMS (MNF)WEEK 4: @ TENNESSEE TITANSWEEK 5: @ ARIZONA CARDINALSWEEK 6: SEATTLE SEAHAWKSWEEK 7: BYE WEEKWEEK 8: @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS WEEK 9: BUFFALO BILLSWEEK 10: HOUSTON TEXANSWEEK 11: @ BALTIMORE RAVENS  WEEK 12: PITTSBURGH STEELERSWEEK 13: @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS   WEEK 14: INDIANAPOLIS COLTSWEEK 15: MINNESOTA VIKINGSWEEK 16: @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS   WEEK 17: @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS   WEEK 18: CLEVELAND BROWNS