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Scenarios for Cincinnati to make postseason
The Cincinnati Bengals‘ playoff chances appeared to be dead in the water after the team dropped to 4-8 in its 44-38 Week 13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Since then, the Bengals have gone on a three-game winning streak. While a trip to the NFL playoffs remains unlikely, a narrow path into the postseason exists for Cincinnati.
The Bengals don’t have any room for error to make it into the playoffs. They also need help from several teams near the bottom of the AFC to claw their way into the No. 7 seed.
Just how slim are the Bengals’ playoff chances? Here’s what they need to make it into the postseason.
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Bengals playoff chances
The Bengals have a 5% chance to make the playoffs, according to The Athletic’s playoff prediction model. That ranks as the lowest chance among any NFL team in the playoff hunt.
Bengals playoff odds
The Athletic’s model is slightly more pessimistic about the Bengals than BetMGM Sportsbook. BetMGM lists Cincinnati with +1000 odds to make the postseason. That gives the Bengals an implied probability of 9.09% to qualify for the playoffs.
Either way, the path for the Bengals to make the postseason is narrow. They don’t have much room for error as they look to overcome another slow start and get back into the playoffs after missing them last season.
What needs to happen for Bengals to make playoffs?
The Bengals need four things to happen to make the playoffs. They are as follows:
That represents the only path that the Bengals have into playoff contention.
Bengals remaining schedule
The good news for the Bengals is that they can control at least part of their own destiny. They are facing the Broncos in Week 17, so beating Denver would help Cincinnati in two areas.
In Week 18, the Bengals will play a tough, divisional matchup against the Steelers. Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati 44-38 in their first meeting but enter the final-week matchup on a three-game losing streak.
Cincinnati’s final two opponents have a combined record of 19-12. Their combined .613 winning percentage gives the Bengals the 10th-toughest remaining schedule, per Tankathon.
Below is a full look at Cincinnati’s schedule:
Broncos remaining schedule
More good news for the Bengals: the Broncos have a tough finish to the 2024 NFL season. Denver has the third-hardest remaining schedule, per Tankathon, as the Broncos have to face Cincinnati and then get a date with the 15-1 Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18.
The only question is whether the Chiefs, who clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed on Christmas, will play their starters in the final week. If not, that could open a door for the Broncos to win and make it into the postseason.
Andy Reid’s squad may sense a chance to knock a divisional rival out of the postseason race should the Broncos lose to the Bengals. If that’s the case, the Chiefs could come ready to play and help send Denver to two consecutive losses.
Below is a full look at Denver’s schedule:
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Colts remaining schedule
Here’s where things get problematic for the Bengals. The Colts have the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL. They are playing against the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars, who have a combined 5-25 record, over the final two weeks of the season.
The Colts are expected to be favored in both of those games. If they can win out and the Broncos stumble, they will be in the playoffs over the Bengals.
Below is a full look at Indianapolis’ schedule:
Dolphins remaining schedule
Even if the Bengals get lucky and the Colts find a way to lose one of their final two games, Cincinnati would also need Miami to lose against either the Cleveland Browns or New York Jets. That schedule is tied for the fifth-easiest league-wide.
The good news for the Bengals is that both games are on the road. The Dolphins tend not to play well in cold weather, so seeing them drop one of these two games wouldn’t be shocking, especially if the weather is bad.
Below is a full look at Miami’s schedule:
Bengals potential playoff opponents
The Bengals can only be the No. 7 seed in the NFL playoffs for 2024. That means that there are only two possible opponents they could face. They are as follows:
The Bills have the inside track to the No. 2 seed in the postseason and can wrap it up with a Week 17 win over the Jets. With that in mind, Zac Taylor can start preaching about a potential trip to Buffalo as he tries to coach Cincinnati to an unlikely playoff berth.
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AFC playoff picture Week 17
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners, No. 1 seed)*
- Buffalo Bills (12-3, AFC East winners)*
- Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North leaders)*
- Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners)*
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, wild card No. 1)*
- Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wild card No. 2)
- Denver Broncos (9-6, wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (7-8), Miami Dolphins (7-8), Cincinnati Bengals (7-8).
NFC
- Detroit Lions (13-2, NFC North leaders)*
- Philadelphia Eagles (12-3, NFC East leaders)*
- Los Angeles Rams (9-6, NFC West leaders)
- Atlanta Falcons (8-7, NFC South leaders)
- Minnesota Vikings (13-2, wild card No. 1)*
- Green Bay Packers (11-4, wild card No. 2)
- Washington Commanders (10-5, wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Seattle Seahawks (8-7), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.
As the MLB season heats up, the Cincinnati Reds find themselves in contention for a postseason berth. With a talented roster and strong performances from key players, the Reds have a chance to make a push for the playoffs. Here are some scenarios for Cincinnati to secure a spot in the postseason:
1. Win the division: The Reds are currently in the thick of the NL Central race, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals. By winning the division, Cincinnati would automatically secure a spot in the postseason.
2. Secure a wild card spot: If the Reds are unable to overtake the Brewers or Cardinals in the division standings, they can still earn a wild card spot by finishing with one of the best records among non-division winners in the National League.
3. Continue strong pitching performances: The Reds have been bolstered by strong pitching performances from starters like Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray, as well as closer Raisel Iglesias. If the pitching staff can continue to perform at a high level, it will greatly increase Cincinnati’s chances of making the postseason.
4. Get key contributions from the lineup: The Reds have a potent lineup led by sluggers like Joey Votto, Jesse Winker, and Nick Castellanos. If these players can continue to produce offensively and provide clutch hits in key situations, it will be a huge boost to the team’s postseason aspirations.
5. Stay healthy and avoid slumps: In a long and grueling MLB season, staying healthy and avoiding prolonged slumps are crucial for a team’s success. If the Reds can keep their key players on the field and avoid extended periods of poor performance, they will be in a strong position to make a postseason run.
Overall, the Cincinnati Reds have a talented roster and the potential to make a postseason push. By executing on the field and following these scenarios, the Reds can increase their chances of playing October baseball and making a run at a World Series title.
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Cincinnati Reds, MLB playoffs, postseason predictions, Cincinnati sports, Cincinnati Reds playoffs, Cincinnati baseball, Cincinnati postseason scenarios
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