The release of the 2025 NFL schedule didn’t sit well with all players. While some teams were handed a more favorable layout, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow felt his team wasn’t as fortunate, particularly when it came to division rival Baltimore Ravens.
After making a critical comment about having to play another short-week game on the road against the Ravens, NFL Vice President of Broadcasting Planning and Scheduling, Mike North, responded to Burrow’s remarks with understanding, noting the challenge of creating a schedule that satisfies everyone.
Mike North Comments on Scheduling After Joe Burrow’s Complaints About Bengals Schedule
The NFL schedule was released two weeks ago, and while every team already knew who their opponents would be, the logistics became clear and ended up favoring some teams over others.
For the third straight year, the Bengals were scheduled to face the Ravens on the road for Thursday Night Football, something that didn’t sit well with Joe Burrow.
“Playing in Baltimore for the fourth straight year in prime time isn’t ideal,” Burrow said. “Maybe we can get one of those in Cincinnati. Please.”
“Playing in Baltimore on primetime for the 4th year in a row isn’t ideal maybe we can get one in Cincinnati next year please.” – Joe Burrow on the schedule
— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) May 20, 2025
A short week means less time to prepare, and in a division as competitive as the AFC North, any advantage becomes crucial for all teams involved. In recent seasons, Baltimore has had the upper hand against the Bengals, even though the matchups have been tightly contested, with both games in 2024 decided by three points or fewer.
North heard Burrow’s criticism and responded with understanding, acknowledging that while the situation isn’t ideal, it’s difficult to build a schedule that fixes every issue from one year to the next.
“It’s fair. It’s not a one- or two-year sort of a league where you fix every problem every other year or every two years. Once you start getting to the same thing three years in a row, four, or five years in a row, whether it’s a short week Thursday on the road or opening on the road. When trends like that emerge, we probably have to adjust at some point,” North said.
He added that if he could change just one game, it would be that Thursday Night Football matchup between the Ravens and Bengals, but noted that one of the meetings between the two teams needed to be in primetime. Based on the tone of the conversation, it’s expected that in 2026, the league will prioritize creating a more balanced schedule for this rivalry compared to the past three years.
While this specific matchup may create a rest disadvantage for the Bengals, the team will have the shortest travel distance of any franchise this season, with just 8,753 miles. For comparison, the Los Angeles Chargers, who will travel the most in 2025, are set to cover a total of 37,086 miles.
North also mentioned that for Cincinnati fans, it would be even more enjoyable to spoil Baltimore’s plans in a Thanksgiving game on the road, a matchup that will be watched nationwide on one of the most exciting dates of the season.