Bengals Playoff Picture: AFC North race hinges on Thursday night battle
Things just got very real for the Cincinnati Bengals. Losing to the Houston Texans has them on the outside of the AFC playoff picture, and a game behind everyone in the AFC North. And while the postseason remains a reasonable destination, a division championship basically comes down to beating the Baltimore Ravens in two days […]
Things just got very real for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Losing to the Houston Texans has them on the outside of the AFC playoff picture, and a game behind everyone in the AFC North. And while the postseason remains a reasonable destination, a division championship basically comes down to beating the Baltimore Ravens in two days on Thursday Night Football.
Here's where the Bengals stand in the current AFC playoff race.
AFC playoff picture if the season ended today:
- Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) – 1st AFC West
- Baltimore Ravens (7-3) – 1st AFC North
- Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3) – 1st AFC South
- Miami Dolphins (6-3) – 1st AFC East
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) – Wild Card
- Cleveland Browns (6-3) – Wild Card
- Houston Texans (5-4) – Wild Card
In the hunt:
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)
- Indianapolis Colts (5-5)
- Buffalo Bills (5-5)
- Las Vegas Raiders (5-5)
- Los Angeles Chargers (4-5)
- New York Jets (4-5)
- Denver Broncos (4-5)
The AFC North managed to all stay ahead of the Bengals thanks to wins from the Browns and Steelers, and the Ravens' loss was to none other than the Browns. The Texans now have a tiebreaker over the Bengals, just like the Bengals have one over the Bills.
Will the Bengals make the playoffs?
It's a little less favorable than a coin flip now. The Bengals have a 41.1% chance at clinching a postseason berth, according to SumerSports.com. All three of their AFC North adversaries have a greater than 50% chance at making it through as of now, which is why the Bengals' four remaining divisional games are so paramount.
Can Cincinnati win the AFC North?
It really comes down to Thursday night. The Bengals will surrender their chance at passing the Ravens in the standings if they get swept by them. A loss would also put them three games back with seven to play, a nearly insurmountable deficit for the division crown.
SumerSports gives them a 10% chance at the moment, but you can drop that down close to 0% if Thursday doesn't go Cincy's way. Remember, no team has ever won the AFC North in three consecutive years. The Bengals won't be the first if they drop thos one.
Bengals’ remaining schedule:
- at Baltimore Ravens
- vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- at Jacksonville Jaguars
- vs. Indianapolis Colts
- vs. Minnesota Vikings
- at Pittsburgh Steelers
- at Kansas City Chiefs
- vs. Cleveland Browns
Zac Taylor offers injury updates on several Bengals entering Week 11
Cincinnati has just a few days to get as healthy as possible.
