The start of the Zac Taylor era isn’t getting much in the way of help from the 2019 schedule.
One glance at the schedule makes it clear the Bengals have a tough task in front of them. They start the year on the road in Seattle and play three of their opening four on the road.
To make matters worse, Week 8 is a trip to London, then the Bengals close the season with two divisional games among their last four games, one of those other opponents over the last four being the New England Patriots.
According to CBSSports’ John Breech, the Bengals are just outside the top 10 in total miles traveled:
1. Raiders: 32,023* (1)
2. Rams: 29,974* (3)
3. Chargers: 28,262** (2)
4. Seahawks: 27,484 (5)
5. 49ers: 25,512 (4)
6. Buccaneers: 24,532* (2)
7. Jaguars: 22,508* (1)
8. Panthers: 22,008* (1)
9. Cardinals: 21,774
10. Texans: 21,368* (1)
11. Bengals: 20,440* (1)
It’s a little staggering when it gets put into this sort of context. Playing away from home is hard enough as it is, but playing on the west coast a few times (against Seattle and Oakland) plus a London game puts things over the top.
If the Bengals end up having a successful season during Taylor’s debut, this will be a point worth going back to and examining again.
