The Cincinnati Bengals are right in the mix for the playoffs.
Unfortunately for them, so are a bunch of other teams in an AFC that features six teams with a 7-6 record.
Case in point, the Bengals owned the seventh seed after the win over the Colts on Sunday. But by the end of the day, they fell to 10th, which is where they stand now due to tiebreakers:
- Ravens (10-3)
- Dolphins (9-3)
- Chiefs (8-5)
- Jaguars (8-5)
- Browns (8-5)
- Steelers (7-6)
- Colts (7-6)
- Texans (7-6)
- Broncos (7-6)
- Bengals (7-6)
- Bills (7-6)
Things are going to get wild over the final month, to say the least. After the Vikings next weekend, the Bengals play the Steelers, Chiefs and Browns to close the season.
And while the Bengals play the Vikings next weekend, these games occur:
- Steelers vs. Colts
- Houston vs. Tennessee
- New York vs. Miami
- Baltimore vs. Jacksonville
That’s just to name a few that could influence standings. Denver also plays a good Detroit team and the struggling Chiefs play the Patriots, too.
On paper, the Bengals probably need to win three of their final four to make the postseason. But if they take care of business, there’s enough guaranteed chaos above them in the standings that it can happen.
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