12-07-2016, 01:29 PM
Breaking down an unlikely Bengals path to the playoffs
Jay Morrison Staff Writer
9:27 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 Sports
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SPORTS
CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 09: Cincinnati Bengals fans hold a sign during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium on January 9, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI
The Cincinnati Bengals head into the final quarter of the season trailing the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers by 2.5 games with four to go, which means their run of five consecutive playoff appearances is likely to end.
But the Bengals aren’t mathematically eliminated yet.
It will take a heavy dose of optimism and suspension of reality to think they can forge the path, but here it is:
The first thing the Bengals have to do is win out, as even one loss will eliminate any chance of making the postseason.
The other thing that has to happen is both the Ravens and Steelers have to go 1-3 in in their final four games, which is tricky because they play each other in Week 16.
RELATED: Ranking the 7 biggest upsets in Battle of Ohio history
At first glance it doesn’t appear too far-fetched that Baltimore could go 1-3. The Ravens final four are at New England, vs. Philadelphia, at Pittsburgh and at Cincinnati.
But the best bet for Bengals fans is to hope for a Ravens loss at home to the Eagles and then a win at Pittsburgh.
That’s because the remaining schedule for the Steelers includes a home game against Cleveland in Week 17. That has to be chalked up as the one allowable win to keep the Bengals alive.
Pittsburgh is at Buffalo on Sunday, then at Cincinnati and home against Baltimore before that season finale against a Browns team that could be fighting to avoid a 0-16 season.
RELATED: Bengals Andy Dalton nominated for NFL Man of the Year
At a quick glance it may appear as if the Bengals could lose one more game because if the Ravens and Steelers tie in Week 16 and go 0-3 in their other games, all three teams would be 7-8-1.
But the first tiebreaker in that scenario would be division record, and Baltimore would be 4-1-1 while the best the Bengals can finish is 4-2.
As far as the wildcard goes, the odds are longer.
The Bengals would need:
Denver to go 0-4 in its final four games (at Tennessee, vs. New England, at Kansas City, vs. Oakland).
Miami to go 1-3 or worse (vs. Arizona, at New York Jets, at Buffalo, vs. New England).
Buffalo to go 2-2 or worse (vs. Pittsburgh, vs. Cleveland, vs. Miami, at New York Jets)
San Diego to go 3-1 or worse (at Carolina, vs. Oakland, vs. Cleveland, vs. Kansas City)
And then whichever teams don’t win the AFC South – Indianapolis, Houston and Tennessee are all 6-6 – to go 2-2 or worse.
Indianapolis: vs. Houston, at Minnesota, at Oakland, vs. Jacksonville
Houston: at Indianapolis, vs. Jacksonville, vs. Cincinnati, at Tennessee
Tennessee: vs. Denver, at Kansas City, at Jacksonville, vs. Houston
Jay Morrison Staff Writer
9:27 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016 Sports
Facebook Twitter Share 0
SPORTS
CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 09: Cincinnati Bengals fans hold a sign during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium on January 9, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI
The Cincinnati Bengals head into the final quarter of the season trailing the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers by 2.5 games with four to go, which means their run of five consecutive playoff appearances is likely to end.
But the Bengals aren’t mathematically eliminated yet.
It will take a heavy dose of optimism and suspension of reality to think they can forge the path, but here it is:
The first thing the Bengals have to do is win out, as even one loss will eliminate any chance of making the postseason.
The other thing that has to happen is both the Ravens and Steelers have to go 1-3 in in their final four games, which is tricky because they play each other in Week 16.
RELATED: Ranking the 7 biggest upsets in Battle of Ohio history
At first glance it doesn’t appear too far-fetched that Baltimore could go 1-3. The Ravens final four are at New England, vs. Philadelphia, at Pittsburgh and at Cincinnati.
But the best bet for Bengals fans is to hope for a Ravens loss at home to the Eagles and then a win at Pittsburgh.
That’s because the remaining schedule for the Steelers includes a home game against Cleveland in Week 17. That has to be chalked up as the one allowable win to keep the Bengals alive.
Pittsburgh is at Buffalo on Sunday, then at Cincinnati and home against Baltimore before that season finale against a Browns team that could be fighting to avoid a 0-16 season.
RELATED: Bengals Andy Dalton nominated for NFL Man of the Year
At a quick glance it may appear as if the Bengals could lose one more game because if the Ravens and Steelers tie in Week 16 and go 0-3 in their other games, all three teams would be 7-8-1.
But the first tiebreaker in that scenario would be division record, and Baltimore would be 4-1-1 while the best the Bengals can finish is 4-2.
As far as the wildcard goes, the odds are longer.
The Bengals would need:
Denver to go 0-4 in its final four games (at Tennessee, vs. New England, at Kansas City, vs. Oakland).
Miami to go 1-3 or worse (vs. Arizona, at New York Jets, at Buffalo, vs. New England).
Buffalo to go 2-2 or worse (vs. Pittsburgh, vs. Cleveland, vs. Miami, at New York Jets)
San Diego to go 3-1 or worse (at Carolina, vs. Oakland, vs. Cleveland, vs. Kansas City)
And then whichever teams don’t win the AFC South – Indianapolis, Houston and Tennessee are all 6-6 – to go 2-2 or worse.
Indianapolis: vs. Houston, at Minnesota, at Oakland, vs. Jacksonville
Houston: at Indianapolis, vs. Jacksonville, vs. Cincinnati, at Tennessee
Tennessee: vs. Denver, at Kansas City, at Jacksonville, vs. Houston
