Bengals have more riding on Week 9 than any other NFL team
Tonight's game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills isn't a must-win for either team, but it's not far from it for the Bengals. Sitting at 4-3 through seven games for the second straight season, the Bengals are still searching for their first victory over an AFC team. They're 0-3 in their own conference, and […]
Tonight's game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills isn't a must-win for either team, but it's not far from it for the Bengals.
Sitting at 4-3 through seven games for the second straight season, the Bengals are still searching for their first victory over an AFC team. They're 0-3 in their own conference, and 0-2 in the AFC North specifically.
Defeating the Bills of all teams to notch their first conference victory would go a long way to enhancing their playoff chances, and the inverse is true as well.
Per Tej Seth of SumerSports, the Bengals' playoff probability with a win tonight increases to 66.6%, and a loss drops it down to 44.4%. That difference is the largest for any NFL team this week.
A two-thirds chance of clinching a spot in the postseason with nine games remaining would put the Bengals in a great spot relative to where they stood a month ago at 1-3. The fascinating aspect would be how nothing could change with the division standings.
The Bengals remain in last place in the AFC North, and wins from the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens would maintain that regardless what happens tonight.
Yes, the potentially 5-3 Bengals would still be behind all of their division rivals. Talk about added urgency.
How the Bengals' season unfolds from here on out may ultimately be determined by what happens at Paycor Stadium tonight.
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All of the lights will be shining in Cincinnati when the Bengals and Bills square off for Sunday Night Football.
