CINCINNATI -- The 2024 Bengals 17-game schedule is out and it features five primetime games and three others in a national TV window. Trags and FOX19 Sports Director Joe Danneman discuss the ins and outs of the schedule and why it's reasonable to expect the Bengals to do well out of the chute in 2024.

Two of the Bengals’ primetime contests will be played under the lights at Paycor Stadium, beginning with a Monday Night Football matchup against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 23 (8:15 p.m. on ABC). Cincinnati’s other home primetime game features the “Battle of Ohio,” as the Bengals will host the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on Dec. 19 (8:15 p.m. on Prime Video).

The game against the Browns will be the Bengals’ second appearance on Thursday Night Football, and their second such matchup against an AFC North Division rival. Cincinnati also will travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens on Thursday, Nov. 7 (8:15 p.m. on Prime Video). This marks the first time in team history that the Bengals are scheduled to play on Thursday Night Football twice in the same season.

The Bengals will kick off the regular season at home against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 8 (1 p.m. on CBS), and close out their schedule with a road clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 (date/time TBD). Preseason opponents also have been finalized. Cincinnati will open the preseason at home against Tampa Bay on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m., then travel to Chicago to face the Bears on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. Each of the first two preseason games will be broadcast on the Bengals Preseason TV Network. Cincinnati will return to Paycor Stadium to host the Indianapolis Colts in a nationally televised preseason finale on Thursday, Aug. 22 (8 p.m. on Prime Video).

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