The Cincinnati Bengals are suddenly very much alive in the AFC playoff conversation.
Make no mistake, it’s still a long shot. But taking down a Jacksonville team on Monday night that had dreams of stealing the AFC’s top seed — while a backup threw for 300-plus yards — has made things interesting.
So, too, does the remaining schedule.
First, the updated AFC standings:
- Miami (9-3)
- Baltimore (9-3)
- Kansas City (8-4)
- Jacksonville (8-4)
- Pittsburgh (7-5)
- Cleveland (7-5)
- Indianapolis (7-5)
- Houston (7-5)
- Denver (6-6)
- Cincinnati (6-6)
- Buffalo (6-6)
When four teams have just one more win ahead of them, the Bengals aren’t entirely out of it. Keep in mind they play four of those teams between now and season’s end, too.
That remaining schedule could feature games against four backup passers, too:
- Week 14: vs. Colts (Gardner Minshew)
- Week 15: vs. Vikings (Josh Dobbs)
- Week 16: at Steelers (Mitch Trubisky)
- Week 17: at Chiefs (Pat Mahomes)
- Week 18: vs. Browns (Joe Flacco)
The Bengals need to hit on a combo to keep winning: The offense needs to keep looking good around Jake Browning’s skillset and the defense needs to, well, wake up.
But with that schedule and the bunched-up standings? The Bengals aren’t dead just yet.
