The Cincinnati Bengals already know they'll be heading to Baltimore for a road clash against the Ravens in the 2026 season—but the real question is whether the lights will be brightest for the fifth straight year.

When the NFL releases its full schedule on Thursday, head coach Zac Taylor and his squad will finally learn if their annual trip to M&T Bank Stadium will once again be a primetime affair. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Taylor didn't hide his mixed feelings about the possibility.

"I think I would be surprised, but prepared for it, if that's what they choose to do to us for the fifth straight year," Taylor said with a wry smile, acknowledging the league's apparent fondness for this divisional showdown under the lights.

The Bengals have had a rocky history in Baltimore night games, dropping their first three primetime visits before finally breaking through with a Thanksgiving win in 2025. That victory was a statement moment for a team that's been building serious momentum in the AFC North.

This year's matchup will carry a new wrinkle, too: the Ravens are now led by defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who took over after the departure of Mike Macdonald. How that change impacts Baltimore's defensive schemes—and whether the game stays in primetime—will be revealed in just a few days when the schedule drops.

For Bengals fans, it's another chapter in what's become one of the NFL's most compelling rivalries. And if history is any guide, they might want to keep their Thursday and Sunday night schedules open.