It appeared all hope was lost for the Cincinnati Bengals when the team dropped its latest heartbreaker by losing to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10.
That was Thursday — Sunday provided some hope.
Hope came from an unexpected place, too, with the Kansas City Chiefs pulling off a last-second victory over the Denver Broncos in 16-14 fashion.
That kept the Broncos at just 5-5 on the season — and the 4-6 Bengals get a shot at them in Week 17.
Just as good? The Buffalo Bills beat the Indianapolis Colts, keeping that reeling club at 4-6.
The Bengals really needed the Los Angeles Chargers to lose on Sunday, too, but no dice there as Brian Callahan’s Tennessee Titans were just no match. But the Bengals get a shot at the Chargers in Week 11 on primetime.
Right now, the Bengals are one of two 4-6 teams with a shot at the final seed in the AFC. And considering the Chargers at 6-3 are still in danger of falling out in a conference that has seven teams with three or fewer wins, anything really is possible.
Six of Cincinnati’s last seven opponents to close the season call the AFC home. Win all six of those, which isn’t impossible, and the Bengals are a 10-win team in a conference that might be lucky to have seven teams finish with a winning record at this rate.
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