Bengals’ Playoff Hopes Hang by a Thread Ahead of Key Bills Showdown
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in a critical moment as they head to Buffalo for a pivotal matchup against the Bills this Sunday. With the opportunity to improve their record to 5-8, the Bengals are aiming for back-to-back victories for only the second time this season. A win in Buffalo would significantly enhance their playoff aspirations, more than doubling their current chances of clinching a spot in the postseason.
Currently, the Bengals sit at a mere 6% likelihood of making the playoffs, according to the New York Times playoff simulator. However, a victory against the Bills would elevate that figure to 14%. The stakes are even higher when considering the implications of other key matchups across the league. This week’s most consequential game outside of Cincinnati is the clash between the Steelers and Ravens. Should the Ravens emerge victorious, the Bengals’ playoff odds would rise to 15%. Conversely, a Steelers win would lower their chances to 11%.
Navigating Complex Playoff Scenarios
The intricacies of the Bengals’ playoff push are compounded by their prior matchups. Having already split their two encounters with the Steelers, Cincinnati will face Baltimore again in Week 15, making every game increasingly vital. Bengals fans are urged to keep an eye on several other matchups that could affect both playoff and draft positioning.
Cincinnati supporters should root for the following results:
Falcons to beat the Seahawks
Jaguars to beat the Colts
Vikings to beat the Commanders
Dolphins to beat the Jets
Titans to beat the Browns
Buccaneers to beat the Saints
Raiders to beat the Broncos
Cardinals to beat the Rams
Bears to beat the Packers
Texans to beat the Chiefs
If the Bengals can secure a win against the Bills, they would find themselves just one game behind the loser of the Steelers-Ravens game, with their own critical confrontation against Baltimore looming the following week.
The Road Ahead for Cincinnati
To maintain any hope of seizing control of their playoff destiny, the Bengals will need to win out the remainder of their schedule. This means not only defeating the Bills but also overcoming the Ravens, Dolphins, Cardinals, and Browns in the final five weeks of the season. Simultaneously, they will require both the Ravens and Steelers to drop two of their last five games.
As the Bengals navigate this challenging stretch, the pressure mounts, but so does the potential for a dramatic turnaround. Bengals fans remain hopeful that their team can rise to the occasion and reclaim a shot at the playoffs, proving that in the NFL, every game counts.
