The Cincinnati Bengals visit the Carolina Panthers in Week 15 of the 2026 NFL season, on Sunday, December 20 at 1:00 PM ET at Bank of America Stadium. Open air · Grass. The Bengals are 6-2 (2nd in the AFC North), the Panthers 3-5 (2nd in the NFC South). The Bengals went 4-2 down the stretch, the Panthers 2-4.
In 2026 the Bengals scored 30 points per game (2nd in the NFL) and allowed 21.9 (14th in the NFL); the Panthers scored 24.9 (11th in the NFL) and allowed 27.4 (29th in the NFL).
Head-to-head, the recent series reads CIN 2–1 over the last 3 meetings, at an average total of 57.7; against the spread it is CIN 2–1, and the total has gone OVER 3–0. CIN have taken 2 of the last 3.
Injury report: 15 players out and 8 questionable across the two teams — Damien Lewis (CAR G, Out), Will Lee III (CAR CB, Out), Jaelan Phillips (CAR LB, Out) and Jonathon Brooks (CAR RB, IR, designated to return).
| Cincinnati Bengals | Carolina Panthers | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 6-2 | 3-5 |
| Division | 2nd AFC N | 2nd NFC S |
| Last six results | L L W W W W | L W W L L L |
| Points / G | 30 (2nd) | 24.9 (11th) |
| Total Yds / G | 383.9 (6th) | 381.8 (8th) |
| Yards / Play | 6.3 (3rd) | 5.8 (10th) |
| Pass Yds / G | 298.3 (1st) | 280.5 (4th) |
| Rush Yds / G | 85.6 (30th) | 101.3 (23rd) |
| 3rd Down % | 53.6% (1st) | 37.7% (19th) |
| 1st Downs / G | 22.4 (5th) | 22.0 (7th) |
| Turnover Diff | +2 (12th) | -1 (19th) |
| Pts Allowed / G | 21.9 (14th) | 27.4 (29th) |
| Yds Allowed / G | 375.3 (27th) | 355.1 (20th) |
| Pass Yds Allowed | 248.6 (23rd) | 221.8 (8th) |
| Rush Yds Allowed | 126.6 (25th) | 133.4 (28th) |
| Sacks | 23 (10th) | 12 (32nd) |
| Player | Team | Position | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Dugger | CIN | S | Questionable | Quadricep |
| Damien Lewis | CAR | G | Out | Knee |
| DJ Turner II | CIN | CB | Questionable | Heel |
| Dylan Fairchild | CIN | G | Questionable | |
| Bobby Okereke | CAR | LB | Questionable | Foot |
| Will Lee III | CAR | CB | Out | Hamstring |
| Jaelan Phillips | CAR | LB | Out | Hamstring |
| Jonathon Brooks | CAR | RB | IR, designated to return | Groin |
| Mike Jackson | CAR | CB | IR, designated to return | Groin |
| Xavier Legette | CAR | WR | IR, designated to return | Knee |
| Claudin Cherelus | CAR | LB | Questionable | Shoulder |
| Jaycee Horn | CAR | CB | Injured reserve | Quadriceps |
| Andrei Iosivas | CIN | WR | Injured reserve | Thumb |
| Brady Christensen | CAR | G | IR, designated to return | Hamstring |
| Cashius Howell | CIN | DE | Injured reserve | Wrist |
| Akayleb Evans | CAR | CB | Injured reserve | Triceps |
| Erick All Jr. | CIN | TE | Injured reserve | |
| Josh Kattus | CIN | TE | Out | Undisclosed |
| Taylor Moton | CAR | OT | Injured reserve | Not injury related - resting player |
| Thomas Incoom | CAR | LB | Injured reserve | Calf |
| Tanner Hudson | CIN | TE | Injured reserve | Pectoral |
| Cam Jackson | CAR | DT | Injured reserve | Knee |
| Swayze Bozeman | CIN | LB | Injured reserve | Groin |
| Ikem Ekwonu | CAR | OT | Reserve/PUP | Knee |
| Jalen Davis | CIN | CB | Injured reserve | Hamstring |
| Brian Parker II | CIN | OT | IR, designated to return | |
| Ja'Sir Taylor | CIN | CB | IR, designated to return | Undisclosed |
| Chris Brazzell II | CAR | WR | Injured reserve | |
| Nic Scourton | CAR | LB | Injured reserve | Knee |
| Matt Lee | CIN | C | Injured Reserve | |
| Cordell Volson | CIN | G | Injured Reserve | |
| Josh Johnson | CIN | QB | Out | |
| McKinnley Jackson | CIN | DT | Questionable | |
| Cam Taylor-Britt | CIN | CB | Injured Reserve | |
| Trey Hendrickson | CIN | LB | Injured Reserve | |
| Brian Asamoah II | CIN | LB | Injured Reserve | |
| Shemar Stewart | CIN | DE | Questionable | |
| Cedric Johnson | CIN | DE | Questionable | |
| Dan Chisena | CAR | WR | Injured Reserve | |
| Popo Aumavae | CAR | DT | Injured Reserve | |
| Tyrek Funderburk | CAR | CB | Injured Reserve | |
| Corey Thornton | CAR | CB | Injured Reserve | |
| Ryan Hayes | CAR | OT | Injured Reserve |
CIN have taken 2 of the last 3.
| Game | Winner | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Week 4 | CIN | 34–24 | Bank of America Stadium |
| 2022 Week 9 | CIN | 42–21 | Paycor Stadium |
| 2018 Week 3 | CAR | 31–21 | Bank of America Stadium |