Entering Monday Night Football, the Cincinnati Bengals still have slim playoff hopes but did get a sliver of help when the Chargers lost on a doinked game-winning field goal against the Chiefs, securing the AFC West for the 9th year in a row for Kansas City and dropping L.A. to 8-5. The Bengals did lose to the Chargers, so passing them will be tough.
Cincinnati’s best hope if they want to sneak into the playoffs would be to win out and get to 9-8, which would include a win over the Broncos, and also get a couple of losses from the Colts and Dolphins, who both sit at 6-7. The Colts visit Denver this week while the Dolphins are in Houston.
| Week | Bengals | Broncos | Colts | Dolphins |
| 15 | at Titans | vs. Colts | at Broncos | at Texans |
| 16 | vs. Browns | at Chargers | vs. Titans | vs. 49ers |
| 17 | vs. Broncos | at Bengals | at Giants | at Browns |
| 18 | at Steelers | vs. Chiefs | vs. Jaguars | at Jets |
The Broncos don’t exactly have a favorable schedule down the stretch while the Colts’ last three games are against teams 3-10 or worse and already eliminated from playoff contention. The Bengals do have two such games (Titans, Browns).
Needless to say, it’s a longshot. But as Yogi Berra always said, it ain’t over ’til it’s over. Regardless of Monday’s result, the Bengals will have an elimination scenario in Week 15. Of note, if the Bengals lose Monday, they can still make the playoffs but only as the No. 7 seed. If they win, they would still be mathematically alive for as high as the No. 5 seed.
Here’s the current AFC standings after Sunday’s action.
1. y – Kansas City Chiefs 12-1
2. y – Buffalo Bills 10-3
3. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-3
4. Houston Texans 8-5
5. Baltimore Ravens 8-5
6. Los Angeles Chargers 8-5
7. Denver Broncos 8-5
8. Indianapolis Colts 6-7
9. Miami Dolphins 6-7
10. Cincinnati Bengals 4-8
(y=clinched division)
The bottom six teams (CLE, JAX, NYJ, TEN, NE, LV) have all been eliminated from playoff contention.
