Joe Burrow confronts the harsh truth with the Bengals’ playoff chances on the verge of total collapse
Things are looking bleak for the Bengals, and Joe Burrow knows.
The Cincinnati Bengals are now 4-9 after blowing a 10-point lead to the Buffalo Bills and losing 39-34 on a snowy Sunday in Orchard Park, NY.
Cincinnati will finish the season with a losing record for the first time since 2020. The Bengals went 9-8 in each of the last two seasons, but can now finish 8-9 at best if they win their final four regular-season games.
Is that enough to somehow make the playoffs? The answer is yes, but the chances are very low.
Bengals’ playoff odds following tough loss in Buffalo
Cincinnati now has a 3% chance at making the 2025-26 NFL playoffs, according to The Athletic’s Playoff Simulator. The only path to the postseason is winning the AFC North, and that became increasingly difficult Sunday.
The Bengals are now three games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers, who moved to 7-6 after squeaking by the Baltimore Ravens, with four weeks remaining. The Steelers would have to lose three of their final four games, and Cincinnati would need to win out just to have a shot at the AFC North title.
Finishing at 8-9 without looking at any other games would only give the Bengals a 29% chance at winning the division, according to The Athletic’s model. That’s only the first step in what needs to happen.
Pittsburgh not only needs to lose three of its final four contests, but the Baltimore Ravens also need to lose one more game to officially be eliminated from contending for the AFC North crown. The Steelers would clinch by winning out or by winning two of their final games, including their Week 18 matchup against Baltimore.
Joe Burrow reacts to Cincinnati’s only playoff path remaining
The Steelers are in the driver’s seat after defeating the Ravens, while the Bengals lost to the Bills, and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow knows this path is harder than it would be if Baltimore had won.
“I think that makes it a little tougher, that probably lowers our chances even more,” Burrow said after the game. “But, you know, that’s how the cookie crumbles. I knew it was gonna be an uphill battle for us when I was coming back, and that wasn’t really in my thought process too much. I just wanted to come back and put on a show and play well in front of everybody.”
Burrow and the Bengals will be back home next week to play the Ravens for the second time in three weeks. One more loss and another win for the Steelers, who play the Miami Dolphins next Monday night, would officially end Cincinnati’s season.
A long shot is only getting longer.
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