The Cincinnati Bengals’44-38 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, coupled with the Denver Broncos winning a 41-32 primetime shootout over the Cleveland Browns Monday night, have put the Bengals’ playoff chances in very dire straits.
Let’s start with the AFC North, which we only need to spend a few moments on. The Bengals were eliminated from division contention with their loss Sunday. Even if the Bengals were to tie the Steelers at 9-8, one of those losses by the Steelers would be to the Ravens, whom the Bengals were swept by. A three-way tie at 9-8 would go to the Ravens thanks to what would be a 3-1 record head-to-head (Steelers would be 2-2, Bengals at 1-3).
So the division is officially out of the question. What about the wild card? Right now, all three wild cards in the AFC (Ravens, Chargers, Broncos) have eight wins. The Bengals were swept by the Ravens and lost head-to-head to the Chargers. The Bengals also already have six conference losses (2-6). Only the Patriots (2-7) and Raiders (2-8) are worse in that category.
The Bengals do not have an elimination scenario this week, as they still have a head-to-head meeting with the Broncos, who are off this week. But a loss to the Cowboys on Monday would all but seal their fate.
Current AFC playoff standings
1. x-Kansas City Chiefs 11-1
2. y-Buffalo Bills 10-2
3. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-3
4. Houston Texans 8-5
5. Los Angeles Chargers 8-4
6. Baltimore Ravens 8-5
7. Denver Broncos 8-5
8. Indianapolis Colts 6-7
9. Miami Dolphins 5-7
10. Cincinnati Bengals 4-8
11. Cleveland Browns 3-9
12. New York Jets 3-9
13. Tennessee Titans 3-9
14. e-New England Patriots 3-10
15. e-Jacksonville Jaguars 2-10
16. e-Las Vegas Raiders 2-10
Key: x-clinched playoff spot, y-clinched division, e-eliminated
