Can Joe Burrow and the Bengals still make it to the playoffs?

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals have a slim chance of making the playoffs if certain situations favor them.


Can Joe Burrow and the Bengals still make it to the playoffs?

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals can still make the playoffs (Image via Imago)

Entering Week 16 of the 2024-25 NFL season, the Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff hopes are not looking good. Their lackluster 6-8 season has been a downer despite the heroics of quarterback Joe Burrow and the offense. But with three games remaining, do they still have a chance to make the playoffs?

Thursday Night Football clash between two AFC West teams could have an impact on that possibility. The Los Angeles Chargers welcomed the Denver Broncos, knowing they needed a win to further cement their chances.

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On the other hand, the Denver Broncos knew a loss to their AFC West rivals could deter their chances of turning their stellar and surprising season into a postseason run. But in all this, the Bengals might have watched the game to understand how their chances would look once the final whistle blew.

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The Los Angeles Chargers or Denver Broncos path

After Thursday’s game, the Los Angeles Chargers have a much more favorable schedule than the Denver Broncos. They will face two bottom ranked teams in the New England Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders. The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov explained how the path for the Bengals would make sense.

Los Angeles Chargers winning against Denver Broncos was what Bengals needed
Los Angeles Chargers winning against Denver Broncos was what Bengals needed (Image via The 33rd Team/X)

Tonight’s Chargers-Broncos game has significant implications for a team like the Bengals. Whichever team loses tonight, Cincinnati would need that team to lose all their remaining games, while the Bengals would need to win out. The “easier” path for Cincinnati on paper would be a Denver loss.

Ari Meirov wrote on X

Going by this explanation, the Cincinnati Bengals will need either of those teams to lose. Then that team should also lose their remaining two games if the Bengals are to have a chance at a postseason berth with their wins.

In that aspect, the game turned out in their favor as the Chargers beat the Broncos with a fourth quarter charge. This places the pressure on the losing team as now they are at risk of losing out in the playoff race after such a stellar season.

Joe Burrow and Bengals have a chance with Broncos loss

As per Ari Meirov, the easier path was if the Denver Broncos lost in Week 16 start. Now, they will face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17 before taking on the Kansas City Chiefs in their season finale. If anything, this makes life easier for Joe Burrow and his team.

Bengals playoff chances depend on Denver Broncos losing next two games
Bengals playoff chances depend on Denver Broncos losing the next two games (Image via NFL/X)

On Sunday, they will take on the hapless Cleveland Browns with their third-string quarterback set to start. Win that and then they will face the Broncos next week. Knowing their playoff hopes are pinned on a win against their AFC Rivals, expect Joe Burrow and his teammates to give it their all.

Then, their final game is against the inconsistent Pittsburgh Steelers. With leading pass rusher TJ Watt‘s injury a concern, Burrow and his track team should find it easier. On top of that, that game will probably make or break their season, which should be all the motivation they need.

However, one possibility still looms over all these scenarios. If the Kansas City Chiefs cement their first-round playoff bye before Week 18, there is a possibility they could rest their starters. That and their previous disappointing loss could motivate the Broncos to exact revenge.

But if the Chiefs do take care of business, the Cincinnati Bengals will play in a Wild Card game. Quite the result after their disastrous stretch of games this season. Unfortunately, with their defense a constant question mark, the chances of all this happening are still slim.

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