Wildcard Watch

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Even with a ridiculously bad Defense, the Bengals are clinging on to the 6th Wildcard Spot as of today.

The Chargers hold the 5th Wildcard with a 7 & 2 record.

I don't see the Bengals moving into the 5th Wildcard spot as the Chargers likely hold onto it. Chargers likely won't catch the Chiefs in their Division or be caught by the Bengals. The Bengals do play the Chargers later, offering a glimmer of hope of holding a tiebreaker over them.

I just don't see this Bengal team catching & passing the Steelers or Chargers unless they have injuries to Big Ben &/or Phillip Rivers.

Teams in play for the 6th Wildcard spot:

Bengals 5 & 4 (in the 6th spot now)

Titans 5 & 4 (Could switch out with the Texans from their own Division by passing the 6 & 3 Texans, making the Texans a Wildcard team)

Dolphins 5 & 5 (Bengals beat Dolphins head to head)

Ravens 4 & 5

Colts 4 & 5 (Bengals beat Colts head to head)

Fun fact:  Browns are next in line at 3 & 6 & 1 tie (Bengals still to play the Browns twice & can't afford to split with them)


The Titans have a formidable Defense and just whipped the Patriots.

The Bengals need to win this upcoming game at the Ravens to send them to 4 & 6 while clinching the head to head versus the Ravens.

One of either the Titans or Texans needs to sputter enough the rest of the way to allow the Bengals to retain that 6th Wildcard spot.

I don't see much Margin for error here for the Bengals.

My guess is now that the AFC West puts in 2 teams (Chiefs & Chargers) & the AFC South puts in 2 teams (Texans & Titans)

This would leave the Bengals as one of the on the Bubble teams that barely misses the Playoffs.

Bengals may be the front runner for being the 7th best team in the AFC when all is said and done.  IMO

Just missing the Playoffs...