The Bengals’ 2008 schedule, released Tuesday by the National Football League, features a rigorous start. Four of the first six games are on the road, and four of the first seven are against 2007 playoff qualifiers.

The home opener will be on Sun., Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. against Tennessee, an ’07 playoff team. The Bengals posted their most lopsided win of ’07 in a home game against the Titans, prevailing 35-6. Cincinnati starts the season on the road for the fourth time in the last five years, facing Baltimore at 1 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 7. It marks the second straight Bengals season opener against the Ravens, following a wild 27-20 Bengals win at Paul Brown Stadium in last year’s lid-lifter.
 
Road games at the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys stand out during the opening six-game stretch.

The Giants game, on Sun., Sept. 21, will be only the second Cincinnati match in the last 10 years against a defending Super Bowl champion from outside the Bengals’ division. The Bengals have held their own in their last 15 games overall against defending Super Bowl champs, showing a 7-8 record.

The Dallas game on Oct. 5 will be the featured doubleheader game on CBS, with a Cincinnati kickoff time of 4:15 p.m. The Cowboys tied for the NFC’s best record last season at 13-3.

“As always, it’s exciting to receive our schedule, and we know the challenges right from the start,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “We have a division opponent on the road, the home opener against a young playoff team in Tennessee, and then the defending world champions.” 

Barring possible changes due to flex scheduling, Cincinnati’s only night game will be at Pittsburgh on Thursday, Nov. 20 -- a week before Thanksgiving -- at 8:15 p.m. The game will be aired on the NFL Network, and will also be simulcast by a local Cincinnati station yet to be determined.

“Battle of Ohio” games against Cleveland are scheduled Sept. 28 at Paul Brown Stadium and Dec. 21 at Cleveland. The Bengals lead Cleveland 35-34 in the all-time series.

The Bengals will close the season at home for only the second time in the last five years, hosting Kansas City on Dec. 28. Though they are not in the same division, the Bengals and Chiefs will be playing for the fourth consecutive year.      

The Bengals preseason schedule, announced previously, features an ESPN national opener on Mon., Aug. 11 at Green Bay.

CINCINNATI BENGALS 2008 SCHEDULE
All times are Eastern.
An asterisk (*) denotes a game subject to flexible scheduling.

PRESEASON (day, date, opponent, time)
Mon., Aug. 11, at Green Bay (ESPN), 8 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 17, DETROIT, 7:35 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 23, NEW ORLEANS, 7:35 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 28, at Indianapolis, 7 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON (day, date, opponent, time)
Sun., Sept. 7, at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 14, TENNESSEE, 1 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 21, at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 28, CLEVELAND, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 5, at Dallas, 4:15 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 12, at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 19, PITTSBURGH, 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 26, (BYE)
Sun., Nov. 2, JACKSONVILLE, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 9, at Houston, 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 16, PHILADELPHIA*, 1 p.m.
Thurs., Nov. 20, at Pittsburgh (NFL NETWORK), 8:15 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 30, BALTIMORE*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 7, at Indianapolis*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 14, WASHINGTON*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 21, at Cleveland*, 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 28, KANSAS CITY*, 1 p.m.