The Cincinnati Bengals were a preseason Super Bowl competitor however have actually rather been among the most frustrating groups of the season. Still, with one week left, the Bengals unbelievably take a crack at to restore a playoff berth regardless of their 4-8 start.
What does Cincinnati require to complete its playoff wonder?
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The AFC North was chosen previously today when the Baltimore Ravens beat the Cleveland Browns to clinch the department. Now, the Steelers are going to be a Wild Card group, either the 5th or 6th seed.
The Bengals have actually had many heartbreaking losses this season, going simply 3-7 in one-score video games. All those tight losses have actually put them in their existing unenviable position relating to tiebreakers.
Cincinnati will not win a tie over the Miami Dolphins due to an inferior conference record. They ‘d win a tiebreaker over the Denver Broncos due to their Week 17 head-to-head win, however Denver sits a video game ahead of them in the standings.
That suggests the Bengals just have one course to the postseason:
Both the Dolphins and Broncos are considerable favorites. Denver is dipping into home versus a Kansas City group that will be resting almost all of its finest gamers. Significant Chiefs noted as out or skeptical on the last injury report consisted of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, Trent McDuffie, Jawaan Taylor, Isiah Pacheco, George Karlaftis, Justin Reid, and Nick Bolton.
The Dolphins are playing a Jets group that has actually apparently sent by mail in the end of their season. New york city was down 40-0 previous to pulling Aaron Rodgers versus the Buffalo Bills recently, and has actually lost 6 of its last 7 video games. Even with Tyler Huntley most likely beginning for Miami, a Jets win would be stunning.
Still, none of that matters if the Bengals can't win on the roadway versus an excellent group, which has actually been tough for Cincinnati this year. The Bengals are 0-3 on the roadway versus groups above.500 this season, losing to the Ravens, Chargers, and Chiefs. Turning that pattern around is Cincinnati's only course to the playoffs.