The Cincinnati Bengals are in a must-win situation Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. If they don’t, they are eliminated from playoff contention with two games remaining in the season.
The Bengals also need help elsewhere to sneak into the playoffs. Part of that help entering the week was needing the loser of Thursday’s game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers to then lose their final two games.
From a mathematical perspective, it didn’t matter which team lost. But if there was a preferred team to lose Thursday, it was the Broncos. Fortunately for the Bengals, that scenario played out Thursday in L.A.
The Bengals now have a chance to at least control their destiny toward having a playoff-clinching scenario in Week 18 by winning their next two games. That’s because they have the Broncos coming to town on Saturday.
The Bengals do need the Colts and Dolphins to each lose a game as well, but even if they both win their next two, the Bengals would still be alive heading into Week 18 with wins over the Browns and Broncos.
Had the Chargers lost, the Bengals road would have been much tougher. They’d be relying on the 3-11 New England Patriots and 2-12 Las Vegas Raiders to both beat the Chargers in the last two weeks.
Bengals fans would certainly take the former option with the Broncos.
The Broncos do finish the season against the Chiefs, who could potentially have the No. 1 seed locked up by then. One more win or one Bills loss secures the bye for Kansas City.
While it’s unlikely the Patriots beat the Bills Sunday, the Chiefs can wrap it up on Christmas if they defeat the Steelers. If the Chiefs clinch the bye, they can rest their starters against Denver. Not what the Bengals want to see.
Still, that whole scenario is more plausible than the Patriots and Raiders both beating the Chargers. The Chargers would clinch a playoff spot Sunday if both the Colts and Dolphins lose, but they likely wouldn’t rest their starters two weeks in a row.
Ultimately, the Bengals have to take care of their own business after missed opportunities throughout the season. But they’re not out of it yet and their chances were helped, even if ever so slightly, Thursday by Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers.
