NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Cincinnati Bengals: How they could still make the 2018 Playoffs

By Kenn Korb

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 2: Cody Core #16 of the Cincinnati Bengals dodges an attempted tackle by Bradley Roby #29 of the Denver Broncos to score a touchdown during the third quarter at Paul Brown Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 2: Cody Core #16 of the Cincinnati Bengals dodges an attempted tackle by Bradley Roby #29 of the Denver Broncos to score a touchdown during the third quarter at Paul Brown Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 12: Corey Davis #84 of the Tennessee Titans loses the ball into the end zone creating a touchdback for the Cincinnatti Bengals during the second half at Nissan Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 12: Corey Davis #84 of the Tennessee Titans loses the ball into the end zone creating a touchdback for the Cincinnatti Bengals during the second half at Nissan Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

A Couple Others Must Lose At Least Once

Even with the perfect outcome among AFC North rivals, Cincinnati still isn’t guaranteed anything, however. The jumble at the bottom of the AFC playoff picture leaves six teams overall vying for the No. 6 seed, and we’ve determined the possible fate of just three of them.

Along with Cincinnati and Baltimore, we have Tennessee, Denver, Indianapolis, and Miami all in the mix for that sixth seed. Cincinnati actually already has an advantage over a couple of them: in their torrid 4-1 start, the Bengals beat both the Colts and Dolphins, giving them a head-to-head edge over both of them.

Tennessee and Denver pose problems, however. The Titans haven’t beaten them, but they have a buttercup schedule. If they win out against the Giants, Redskins, and Colts, they’ll sit at 10-6. Denver could also reach 10-6 if they win out, and they also just earned a head-to-head tie-breaker over the Bengals last weekend, giving them an edge if the two are in a tie for the No. 6 spot in the end.

Again, though, there is an opening here for the taking on both teams.

Anyone following this Tennessee squad in 2018 knows that they haven’t exactly been a consistent bunch. Odds are, they find a way to lose at least one game along the way, and in a 9-7 tie they will lose to Cincinnati due to their current 4-6 conference record (if Cincinnati wins out, they’ll be 7-5 in the AFC; Tennessee can only be 6-6 at best).

As for Denver, they just lost Emmanuel Sanders — their best wide receiver by a wide margin — to a torn left Achilles tendon. Their offense is definitely built on the run (No. 5 in rushing yards per game; No. 23 in passing yards per game), but losing someone who was both their most consistent and high-end chip in the passing game is a devastating endeavor to overcome.

Denver has a weak closing schedule; they play three scrubs (at 49ers, vs. Browns, at Raiders) before finishing off against a Chargers team which could have the fifth seed wrapped up and no chance to supplant Kansas City for the AFC West crown. That Chargers game could be key, but with no Sanders it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a team which was once 3-6 (including a loss to the Jets) to drop a game to another scrub team now that they’re missing their biggest passing game weapon.

Home/Cincinnati Bengals