CINCINNATI – After missing two months due to injury, Joe Burrow is finally making his return this week and it’s just in the nick of time for the Cincinnati Bengals.
At 3-8, the Bengals’ playoff hopes are on life support, but if anyone can save the team, it’s Burrow. The Bengals quarterback has gone almost a full year without losing a game. Since Week 14 of the 2024 season, the Bengals have gone 7-0 with Burrow as their starter and if that run can continue, Cincinnati could end up pulling off one of the most improbable playoff berths in NFL history.
As things stand now, the Bengals have a 0.7% chance of making the postseason, according to the odds from SportsLine.
If the Bengals are going to make the playoffs, they really only have one option: They have to win the AFC North. For most 3-8 teams, the idea of winning the division is laughable, but luckily for the Bengals, the AFC North has turned into the division that no one wants to win this year. The Bengals were 4-8 at one point last year before running off five straight wins to end the season, so the team certainly knows what it takes to get hot.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Burrow was asked what he thought about the possibility of the Bengals running the table.
“I think we’ve just got to take it one game at a time,” Burrow said. “Yeah, we pretty much have to win every game at this point. The only way you’re going to do that is by attacking each week. You have to be 1-0 that week and move on to the next.”
If the Bengals are going to win out, that run will have to start on Thursday night with a Thanksgiving win over the Baltimore Ravens.
AFC North Standings
| Team | Overall Record | Division Record | Conference Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravens | 6-5 | 2-0 | 4-3 |
| Steelers | 6-5 | 2-1 | 5-2 |
| Bengals | 3-8 | 2-1 | 3-4 |
| Browns | 3-8 | 0-4 | 2-6 |
As you can see, the Bengals are currently three games behind both the Steelers and Ravens and they have six weeks to make up that ground. It won’t be easy, but here’s the most plausible scenario that would end with the Bengals winning the division:
BENGALS
Remaining opponents: at Ravens (Win), at Bills (Win), Ravens (Win), Dolphins (Win), Cardinals (Win), Browns (Win)
What has to happen: The Bengals need to run the table and win their final six games. If they pull that off, that would mean a sweep of the Ravens, which would bring Cincinnati right back into the division race.
Final record: 9-8, 5-1 in division
RAVENS
Remaining opponents: Bengals (Loss), Steelers (Win), at Bengals (Loss), Patriots (Win), at Packers (Loss), at Steelers (Win)
What has to happen: The Bengals need the Ravens to go 3-3 over their final seven games.
Final record: 9-8, 4-2 in division
STEELERS
Remaining opponents: Bills (Loss), at Ravens (Loss), Dolphins (Win), at Lions (Loss), at Browns (Win), Ravens (Loss)
What has to happen: The Steelers have a brutal schedule and if they get swept by Baltimore, that could leave them short of even reaching a 9-8 record.
Final record: 8-9, 3-3 in division
As I said at the top, the Bengals have only a 0.7% chance of making the playoffs, so please cue the Lloyd Christmas meme.
“So you’re telling me there’s a chance.”
– Andrew Gurtis
Burrow led the Bengals to a 2-0 record at the start of the season before missing eight games due to a turf toe injury and the team went just 1-7 in his absence.
