The Cincinnati Bengals are 4-9 and enter a Week 15 bout against the Baltimore Ravens coming off a brutal loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 14. After their big Thanksgiving win over the Ravens, Cincinnati squandered the opportunity with a loss the next week.
Joe Burrow is melancholic about his status in the NFL, and Tee Higgins is likely to miss the Week 15 game due to another concussion. With things going very poorly lately, it's hard to imagine the Bengals can make the playoffs. But, technically, they can.
Ali Bhanpuri of NFL.com highlights a few key playoff percentages for the Bengals entering Week 15 against the Ravens. While the odds are slim, and the Bengals are currently facing elimination, they can still make it.
Bengals' playoff scenarios for Week 15 vs. Ravens
For starters, if the Bengals lose to the Ravens and drop to 4-10, they will be eliminated from playoff contention, regardless of what they do for the rest of the season. Bhanpuri has their odds at 0% with a loss, as the Ravens or Steelers would win the AFC North.
But, if they win, their odds triple from 1% to 3%. While it's still very unlikely, they would still be in the playoff hunt and could sneak in with an AFC North title.
The only issue for the Bengals is that they have no control over their own destiny. Not only do they need to win out, which includes matchups against the Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, and Cleveland Browns.
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None of those are exceptionally difficult matchups, and all should be winnable for the Bengals. However, while winning out is important, they will need some major help.
The Steelers will need to lose out, and the Ravens will need to lose all but Week 18 against the Steelers. Pittsburgh faces the Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Browns, and Ravens, while Baltimore gets the Bengals, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, and Steelers.
While Bhanpuri has the Bengals AFC North odds at just 1 percent, if everything goes their way, the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals will all be 7-9, with the Bengals holding a tiebreaker, sneaking into the playoffs.
It's incredibly unlikely, but for now, heading into Week 15 against the Ravens in Cincinnati, the Bengals are still alive in the playoff hunt. One loss, or one win, from the Ravens or Steelers would eliminate the Bengals. It's tight, but there's still a chance.
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