Bengals playoff hopes may very well be in the Kansas City Chief's hands

[Bengal Billy]

(12-28-2024, 11:42 PM)ochocincos Wrote: It does make me wonder if Bengals-Steelers will be the flex game next Sunday night since potentially it may be the only game where both teams have something to play for.

I sincerely hope not. Want no part of Steelers at home on Sunday night primetime. (Plus, I enjoy the early games anyway, lol).

Steelers will still have a shot at the division title if Balt were to lose to Cleveland. Both games will probably be played at the same time.

Detroit vs Minn will likely be the Sunday night game.

[*Awful Llama*]

(12-28-2024, 11:42 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Sad part is now it looks like 10 wins would have sealed the deal for the Bengals, which could (should) have been against the lowly Patriots in Week 1.
Now instead of the Bengals controlling their destiny going into PIT to lock in a playoff spot, they have to rely on a handful of losses from other teams even if they win (1 from each of DEN, IND, and MIA across 5 games).

It does make me wonder if Bengals-Steelers will be the flex game next Sunday night since potentially it may be the only game where both teams have something to play for.

If things break right tomorrow/Monday night it may be the Vikings/Lions game, which could determine not just the NFCN winner, but also the #1 seed in the NFC.  But, if the NFCN is settled before then (and I'd like it to be), you could be right.  I'd rather we stay at 1:00, though.  

[BengalYankee]

(12-28-2024, 11:42 PM)ochocincos Wrote: It does make me wonder if Bengals-Steelers will be the flex game next Sunday night since potentially it may be the only game where both teams have something to play for.

Never. If Denver beats KC or Miami/Indy wins their next two games Bengals vs Steelers is meaningless. 

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(12-28-2024, 04:30 PM)ERIC1 Wrote: And the difference is execution...burrow is just as much to blame..i like burrow...but in clutch situations i would take mahoomes 99 outta a hundred times..it may not look pretty but mahomms gets the job done

I don't disagree. But having Andy Reid call the plays helps..

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

(12-28-2024, 11:57 PM)Bengal Billy Wrote: I sincerely hope not. Want no part of Steelers at home on Sunday night primetime. (Plus, I enjoy the early games anyway, lol).

Steelers will still have a shot at the division title if Balt were to lose to Cleveland. Both games will probably be played at the same time.

Detroit vs Minn will likely be the Sunday night game.

IDK, if things were to break our way, then Pitt might know they cannot win the division..That would certainly help the cause. 

But I also agree that Vikes/Lions will be the flex game. Both teams are better and the game doesn't impact qualification, only seeding. Moving it back does not hurt/help anyone else getting in.

[Forever Spinning Vinyl]

Andy Reid needs to figure out if he thinks the Bills or Joe Burrow is the greater danger. If he thinks that his team will have more trouble with the Bills, then he tries to win next week. If he fears Burrow more than the Bills, then they fold against Denver and he calls conservative plays designed to kill time more than score points.

No matter what he does next Sunday, he eliminates one key threat. He can eliminate Burrow outright with a loss or he can put Cincinnati in Buffalo for the first round with a win.

We'll find out which one he wants next weekend unless Indy or Miami win out.

[Destro]

(12-29-2024, 06:24 AM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: Andy Reid needs to figure out if he thinks the Bills or Joe Burrow is the greater danger. 

If I am Reid, the absolute last team I would want to see is Cincy. The Bengals are only a few good defensive stops away from beating anyone. Burrow is unstoppable and KC has not looked great ( while still having the greatest record ). Zero to play for against Denver. Their team has plenty of guys who need rest and recovery. Run the game with super wide tosses, dive plays and get out of there uninjured would be my goal. Burrow or not, think the Chiefs need more health than notch in the win column. 

[*pally*]

Looks like Chiefs fans are conflicted. They want the Bengals in to take out the Bills. But they don't necessarily want to face them later in the playoffs

[*ochocincos*]

(12-29-2024, 03:27 AM)BengalYankee Wrote:


Never. If Denver beats KC or Miami/Indy wins their next two games Bengals vs Steelers is meaningless. 

Not true.
It would only be meaningless for the Bengals but still relevant for Steelers when it comes to playoff seeding.

Sounds more like the Bengals-Steelers could be a Saturday game though, which would then put pressure on Denver and Miami for Sunday.

[*Go Cards*]

(12-29-2024, 09:03 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Not true.
It would only be meaningless for the Bengals but still relevant for Steelers when it comes to playoff seeding.

Sounds more like the Bengals-Steelers could be a Saturday game though, which would then put pressure on Denver and Miami for Sunday.

Agreee

 See the Bengals and the Dolphins games being played Saturday or early Sunday while both still could possibly factor into the equation. If flexed to night games Sunday then both could end up meaningless games with nobody wanting to watch except their own fanbases. 

See the NFL wanting every game that could count featured when it is still possibly relevant, meaning all bubble teams will be played first.

[BengalYankee]

(12-29-2024, 09:03 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Not true.
It would only be meaningless for the Bengals but still relevant for Steelers when it comes to playoff seeding.

Sounds more like the Bengals-Steelers could be a Saturday game though, which would then put pressure on Denver and Miami for Sunday.

(12-30-2024, 07:07 AM)Go Cards Wrote: Agreee

 See the Bengals and the Dolphins games being played Saturday or early Sunday while both still could possibly factor into the equation. If flexed to night games Sunday then both could end up meaningless games with nobody wanting to watch except their own fanbases. 

See the NFL wanting every game that could count featured when it is still possibly relevant, meaning all bubble teams will be played first.

The issue is moot as the Bengals vs Steelers will rightfully play BEFORE the Chiefs vs Broncos.

There was no way the NFL was going to broadcast Sunday Night Bengals[potentially eliminated] vs Steelers[seeded 5th or 6th] against Detroit vs Minn.

[BIGDADDYFROMCINCINNATI]

Per ESPN's ticker--Andy Reid announced he will be deactivating his starters for Sunday game against the Broncos. Vegas is giving KC +10 points, so it sounds like KC wants no part of the Bengals.

IMO Rest= Rust, and KC's starters will have not played a down of football in over 3 weeks when the 2nd round starts. I think Reid will play his starters at least in the first half vs Denver.

[SunsetBengal]

(12-29-2024, 12:56 PM)pally Wrote: Looks like Chiefs fans are conflicted.  They want the Bengals in to take out the Bills.  But they don't necessarily want to face them later in the playoffs

Either way, they'll likely have to face at least one team that matches up well with them.

[*Go Cards*]

(12-30-2024, 08:07 AM)BengalYankee Wrote: The issue is moot as the Bengals vs Steelers will rightfully play BEFORE the Chiefs vs Broncos.

There was no way the NFL was going to broadcast Sunday Night Bengals[potentially eliminated] vs Steelers[seeded 5th or 6th] against Detroit vs Minn.

Thought that's exactly what I said saying the Bengals and the Miami game will be before the Chiefs. It was early and sorry if it didn't read that way to you.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(12-30-2024, 06:21 PM)BIGDADDYFROMCINCINNATI Wrote: Per ESPN's ticker--Andy Reid announced he will be deactivating his starters for Sunday game against the Broncos.  Vegas is giving KC +10 points, so it sounds like KC wants no part of the Bengals.

IMO Rest= Rust, and KC's starters will have not played a down of football in over 3 weeks when the 2nd round starts.  I think Reid will play his starters at least in the first half vs Denver.

I mean, that could be it or at least part of it and I understand as Bengals fans we want to make it all about us.... but it could also simply be the fact that they already played 16 games, are banged up, and they already locked down the #1 seed.

Their Week 17 injury report had...
Patrick Mahomes
Chris Jones
Justin Reid
Xavier Worthy
Creed Humphrey
Jawaan Taylor
DJ Humphries
Chamarri Conner
...all on it, and Isaiah Pacheco got a rib injury in the game.

Rest = They'll probably be the closest to 100% healthy that any team could possibly be at the end of the season.

We might have won the SB in '21 if we had 3 weeks for our OL to both not get hurt more and heal up. Hell, I will go as far as saying I like our odds of winning the SB in '15 as well if we had 3 weeks of Dalton being able to heal his thumb.

[Destro]

It's not like they will rest every single starter. Just not enough people for that.

[Ell Prez]

(12-31-2024, 12:44 AM)Destro Wrote: It's not like they will rest every single starter. Just not enough people for that.

Yes there is. Outside of K, LS, P, they have a back up for every position. I don’t think they play 100% backups 100% of the time.

[Destro]

No, there is not enough people to rest EVERY starter and that will not happen. You cannot only suit up one "other" player for each position, as alignments and personnel change, running 2 LBs or 3, two corners or in the dime. Some back ups are in place to play multiple roles, like an O-lineman on the sidelines may fill in at Center and either side guard or tackle. Players can still get injured and will need players to take their place. 48 need dress. And because someone like Pacheco sits and Perine plays is not sending all back-ups in. Just situational players may get more mainline time.

Anyone with an injury sits. Star players sit, but there will be players who were out there last week playing this week. May swap some out after a quarter or so.

[Millhouse]

Assuming Bengals get knocked out, I hope the final nail is because of Miami winning instead of Chiefs losing with a depleted roster.

[BIGDADDYFROMCINCINNATI]

(12-31-2024, 09:47 AM)Ell Prez Wrote: Yes there is. Outside of K, LS, P, they have a back up for every position. I don’t think they play 100% backups 100% of the time.

Per ESPN's ticker:  Andy Reid announced he's "deactivating" all his starters for the Denver game.  Maybe Reid is playing a trick on his rivals, but Vegas is buying it.  The strip has KC +10. 


This article says "KEY Starters," but it is what it is.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/chiefs-plan-to-rest-key-starters-in-week-18-how-kansas-citys-decision-could-impact-tight-afc-playoff-race/