Bengals got the help they needed to experience the best of both worlds after huge win over Dolphins
Cincinnati got the win and stayed put in the 2026 NFL Draft order.
Failing to make the playoffs is not going to stop the Cincinnati Bengals from trying to win. Cincinnati proved that wholeheartedly Sunday in a 45-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Winning is refreshing and cathartic when the losses have grossly outnumbered the victories. The Bengals are now 5-10, and the players in the locker room have no concern over what their final record means for the near future, particularly for the 2026 NFL Draft. Winning is all that matters, even if the 2026 team has a worse first-round draft pick.
Fortunately for this week, the Bengals were victorious, and their spot in the draft order remained untouched thanks to some help from an NFC team.
Bengals stay put in 2026 NFL Draft order thanks to Falcons winning
Cincinnati entered Week 16 holding the No. 9 pick in the first round of the 2026 draft, and they’ll leave Week 16 with the No. 9 pick.
Defeating the Dolphins could’ve moved the Bengals down to the No. 10 pick, but the Atlanta Falcons beating the Arizona Cardinals, 26-19, Sunday evening moved Atlanta to 6-9 on the season. Had the Falcons lost, they would’ve jumped Cincinnati in the draft order. They are instead at pick No. 11, though their selection is owned by the Los Angeles Rams.
That’s where things stand entering the penultimate week of the season, but the Bengals can end up picking as far as four spots higher, or potentially six spots lower.
Cincinnati was 3-4 entering Week 8 back in October. Back-to-back losses entering the bye week, and winning only one contest out of the first five that followed the break put the Bengals in a hole they couldn’t climb out of for the postseason. It’s why they have a 37% chance at picking in the top 10 according to The Athletic.
Winning in Miami may’ve put a dent in those chances, but as of now, Cincinnati is still in possession of its highest first-round pick since the 2021 draft when Ja’Marr Chase was picked No. 5 overall.