Playoff Clinching Scenarios

[kevin]

(12-19-2022, 01:07 AM)Johnny Cupcakes Wrote: I haven’t seen this made official anywhere yet, BUT, the Bengals are almost a lock to make the playoffs at this point. It looks like the only way that we don’t see them in is if the following things happen:

The Bengals go 0-3
The Patriots go 3-0
The Jets go 3-0
The Chargers go 2-1, with the one loss coming against the Colts OR Broncos

So we could be in as soon as Thursday, if the Jags beat the Jets.

If the Jets win, then the Bengals will still get in on Sunday with a win OR a Patriots loss.

This is what I’ve come up with based on ducking around with the playoff simulator for an hour or so. I can’t find any other way that we miss it. If anyone else does, please post it.

It's very simple. Bengals could lose 3 games and finish with 7 losses.   If Bengals hand Patriots their 8th loss,  Bengals clinch a play-off spot.   However I am sure the Bengals are thinking of winning the AFC North again and having a home game in the play-offs.  Maybe even finishing ahead of Chiefs and Bills as the top seed.  

It's also very possible that all 4 AFC North teams end up with good records as last year.  Browns and Steelers are 6-8 and both could win a few more games.  So Bengals winning a tough AFC NORTH again would be no small thing.  The AFC North has had a lot of teams go to Super Bowl over the decades.