If you’ve spent any time at a sports bar in the Queen City lately, you know the vibe. It’s a mix of "Joe Burrow is still that guy" and "Wait, how did we lose that game?" Honestly, the 2025 season was a rollercoaster that mostly stayed on the downhill parts, leaving a lot of people scratching their heads and asking, what is Cincinnati Bengals record exactly, and why does it feel so weird?
Basically, the Bengals finished the 2025 regular season with a 6-11 record.
That’s a tough pill to swallow. Especially when you consider they were coming off back-to-back 9-8 seasons and had Super Bowl expectations. They ended up 3rd in the AFC North, which, if we’re being real, is essentially the "Group of Death" in the NFL. Being 6-11 in this division is like being a straight-A student in a class full of geniuses; you still look like you're failing.
The Brutal Reality of the 2025 Standings
The AFC North didn't do Cincinnati any favors. While the Steelers clawed their way to a 10-7 record and a division title, the Bengals struggled to find their footing. It wasn't just about the losses; it was how they lost.
Take a look at the division breakdown from this past year:
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7 (Division Champs)
- Baltimore Ravens: 8-9
- Cincinnati Bengals: 6-11
- Cleveland Browns: 5-12
People keep pointing to the offense, but the defense was actually the anchor. And not the good kind of anchor that keeps a ship steady. The kind that drags it to the bottom of the Ohio River. Statistically, the Bengals' defense ranked 32nd in several categories. Last. Dead last. You can’t win in this league when you’re giving up 40+ points to the Chicago Bears, which actually happened in Week 9 (a 47-42 heartbreak).
Breaking Down the Schedule: Where It Went Wrong
The season started with so much hope. A Week 1 win against the Browns (17-16) and a Week 2 victory over the Jaguars (31-27) had everyone thinking 2025 was the year. Then, the wheels just... fell off.
A four-game losing streak followed. They got absolutely smoked by the Vikings (48-10) and the Broncos (28-3). It’s kind of wild to see a team with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins struggle to put up points, but that’s the NFL for you.
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There were flashes of greatness, though. That Thanksgiving night win in Baltimore? Pure magic. Burrow returned to form, and the Bengals pulled off a 32-14 upset that had everyone thinking a late-season playoff push was possible. But then they lost to Buffalo and Baltimore again, and by Week 15, the playoff dream was officially dead.
The season wrapped up with an 18-20 loss to the Browns in Week 18. It was a poetic, if depressing, end to a season defined by "almosts."
The 2025 Game-by-Game Snapshot
Honestly, looking at the scores tells the whole story. It wasn't just a lack of talent; it was a lack of consistency.
- High Point: 45-21 blowout against the Dolphins in Week 16.
- Low Point: 0-24 shutout loss to the Ravens in Week 15.
- The "Wait, What?" Game: 38-39 loss to the Jets in Week 8.
What Is Cincinnati Bengals Record All-Time?
If you’re a long-time fan, you know that the franchise has seen some dark days. Before the 2025 season started, the Bengals' all-time regular-season record stood at 403-479-5. After adding the 6-11 campaign, they are sitting at 409-490-5.
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It’s easy to get bogged down in those numbers, but the Joe Burrow era has significantly changed the trajectory. Even with a 6-11 season, Burrow remains the franchise leader in quarterback winning percentage at .565 (43-33-1). He's ahead of legends like Ken Anderson (.529) and Andy Dalton (.533).
And let's talk about the records that actually did get broken in 2025, because it wasn't all bad news:
- Ja'Marr Chase: He's currently sitting on 54 career touchdowns. He needs 13 more to pass Chad Johnson's franchise record of 66. Most experts think he hits that by the end of 2026.
- Chase Brown: He set a record for Bengals running backs with 69 catches in a single season (2025). He’s quickly becoming one of the most versatile weapons in the league.
- Joe Burrow: He continues to hold the NFL's all-time lead in completion percentage at 68.5%.
Why the 6-11 Record is Misleading
Look, 6-11 is a bad record. There’s no way to sugarcoat that. But if you look at the "Simple Rating System" (SRS), which accounts for strength of schedule and margin of victory, the Bengals weren't actually the 6th-worst team in the league.
They played one of the toughest schedules in football. They had to deal with a revolving door of injuries and a defense that couldn't stop a nosebleed. Despite that, they were in almost every game. Their point differential was -78, which sounds bad until you realize they had three losses by 2 points or less.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Future
A lot of folks see a 6-11 record and assume Zac Taylor is on the hot seat or that the window has closed. That's probably not the case. The Bengals were aggressive in the 2025 offseason, drafting defensive ends like Shemar Stewart and linebackers like Demetrius Knight.
The real issue in 2025 was the defense. If the front office can fix the secondary and get a bit more pressure on the quarterback, this same roster is capable of a 12-win season. We've seen it before in 2021 and 2022.
The 2026 opponents are already locked in, and the Bengals will be facing the AFC South. That’s a significantly easier path than the AFC East gauntlet they just ran.
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Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're tracking the Bengals' progress heading into the 2026 season, here is what you should actually be watching:
- Monitor the Defensive Rebuild: Keep a close eye on the free-agent signings in March. The team has a lot of cap space after releasing players like Sheldon Rankins and Alex Cappa.
- Track the Chase/Higgins Contract Situation: Both receivers are reaching milestones, but their long-term future in Cincinnati is always the biggest storyline in the offseason.
- Study the 2026 Schedule: With games against the AFC South (Jaguars, Texans, Colts, Titans), the path to a winning record is much clearer than it was last year.
- Check the Health of the O-Line: Joe Burrow’s success is 100% tied to his protection. Watch for any veteran additions to the interior line during the summer.
The 6-11 record of 2025 is in the books, but in the NFL, things change fast. Just ask the 2021 Bengals.