Bengals will have to wait until after Christmas for their playoff hopes to receive needed help

Nothing has changed for the Cincinnati Bengals and their quest to make the playoffs this season. A 24-6 win over the Cleveland Browns keeps their hopes alive, but everything else that still needs to happen hasn't happened yet. Cincinnati is still behind both the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins in the AFC standings despite all teams being 7-8. […]

John Sheeran — Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
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Dec 22, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor reacts to an interference call during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium.
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Nothing has changed for the Cincinnati Bengals and their quest to make the playoffs this season. A 24-6 win over the Cleveland Browns keeps their hopes alive, but everything else that still needs to happen hasn't happened yet. 

Cincinnati is still behind both the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins in the AFC standings despite all teams being 7-8. If all teams reach 9-8 and the Denver Broncos have a 9-8 record as well, it would be the Colts who get in out of those teams. The Los Angeles Chargers losing out in that scenario would allow the Dolphins to squeak in along with the Colts.

The Bengals are in the same position they were in this time last week, so let's look at where the odds stand.

Bengals remain playoff longshots after Week 16

Despite their third consecutive victory, the Bengals' playoff chances are at 7% according to NFL.com. The Bengals will only make the playoffs if:

  • Bengals win final two games, finish 9-8
  • Broncos lose final two games, finish 9-8
  • Colts lose one game, finish 8-9 at best
  • Dolphins lose one game, finish 8-9 at best

The Colts and Dolphins each won on Sunday along with the Bengals, which is why the Bengals' playoff odds remain below 10%. This was a week in which both teams could've feasibly lost, but the Colts held off a late comeback effort from the Tennessee Titans and the Dolphins did the same against the San Francisco 49ers.  

This is what the Bengals can't control. The Colts finish out the season with games against the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Dolphins close things out against the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. 

Both teams will be likely favorites in each of their final two games while the Bengals will have to get past the Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers; two teams currently in the playoff bracket. The Bengals also need the Broncos to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18, but the Chiefs may not even try to win that game if they already locked up the #1 seed in the AFC.

Compared to a few days ago, Cincinnati's path to the postseason now looks a bit more improbable. All they can control is winning the games they play. The rest is out of their hands. 

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