Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) and quarterback Joe Burrow (9) celebrate a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Broncos at Paycor Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024.

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Cincinnati Bengals Playoff Chances: What has to happen for the Bengals to make the playoffs?

Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) and quarterback Joe Burrow (9) celebrate a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Broncos at Paycor Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024.

The resurgence of the Cincinnati Bengals towards the end of this NFL season needs to be studied. Once 4-8 and on the brink of elimination from playoff contention, Joe Burrow and co. have managed to strike back in style. Not only have they strung together a 4-game win streak, they are still in the race for a spot in the playoffs.

The Bengals defense has started to play better in the last 4 games. They are still one of the bottom 5 defenses in the league. But in the last few games, they have done just enough to give the Joe Burrow-Ja’Marr Chase powered offense a chance.

All that matters is right now. #CINvsPIT | @MillerLite pic.twitter.com/FgnPDxI0Hg
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 4, 2025

The Bengals playoff chances are slim, a bit too slim for their liking. But Zac Taylor’s boys will take their chances, no matter how they come. So, what are the chances for the Bengals to qualify for the postseason? And more importantly, what has to happen for the Bengals to make the playoffs? Let’s have a look at the Bengals’ playoff chances.

Bengals Playoff Chances: Are Bengals eliminated from the Playoffs?

No, the Cincinnati Bengals are not eliminated from the playoffs contention yet. Though they are 8-8 going into the last season of the game against the Steelers tonight, they have a slim chance of making it to the postseason.

These are the days you live for…#CINvsPIT x #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/oRrpoGBZg6
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 4, 2025

According to NFL.com, the Bengals currently have a 5 percent chance of qualifying for the postseason. A win against the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) will increase their chances of making the playoffs to 10%. But a loss tonight vs. the Steelers will be curtains for Joe Burrow and company.

But the playoff picture for the Bengals is not as simple as it seems. They will need help from their fellow AFC teams, especially the Miami Dolphins and the Denver Broncos. Here is what needs to happen for the Bengals to make it through.

What has to happen for the Bengals to make the playoffs?

The Bengals currently compete with the Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins for the only available postseason berth in the AFC. Currently, the Broncos have an 85% chance of making the playoffs while it is just 9 percent for the Dolphins.

For the Bengals to make it to the playoffs, these 3 things need to happen:

The Bengals must win tonight’s game against the Steelers.
The Denver Broncos must lose their remaining game to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Miami Dolphins must lose or tie their game against the New York Jets.

Also Read: Only two teams have a “Win and In” scenario for Week 18!

The Broncos face a “win-and-in” situation but they face the mighty Chiefs for their last game of the season. But the Chiefs plan on resting some of their key players, including QB Patrick Mahomes. With Carson Wentz as the starting QB for the Chiefs, the Bengals would dearly hope for the Chiefs to beat the Broncos, who do have a strong defense!

And not only that, the Bengals would also hope for the New York Jets to beat the Dolphins. The Jets are on a 2-game losing streak and if the rumors are to be believed, there is a chance that Aaron Rodgers might bid farewell to the NFL. If it is indeed the last game of Rodgers iconic career, then he will have added motivation to finish things off on a high.

If the NFL gods favor the Bengals and they reach the playoffs, they will be seeded #7 in the AFC. They will then be up for a high profile wildcard game against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. A Burrow vs. Allen match-up would surely be intriguing, provided all of the above things happen for the Bengals!

(Image Credits: Imagn Images)

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My story begins as a young, enthusiastic kid who always wanted to watch sports, ALWAYS. And now, I get to watch and work for sports, all the time! I have been following many sports for more than 2 decades, new to many and expanding my horizon. With more than 12 years of experience in writing, Content Management and Strategy, my goal is to do my bit at The Playoffs and reach new heights, together. A Jack Of Trade, Master Of None – Send me sports related memes and we can be best friends!