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Bengals Playoff Chances: Scenarios for How Cincinnati Makes NFL Postseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonathan Adams | Last updated Jan 4, 2025 7:44 PM ET

Heading into Week 18, the Cincinnati Bengals have a chance to make the NFL playoffs, but the odds are stacked against Joe Burrow's squad. The Bengals are part of a three-part math problem that are all connected to create the slim scenario for Cincy to punch their ticket to the NFL playoffs.

Cincinnati's first step is the most clear: defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers. A win would move the Bengals to 9-8 and keep Cincinnati's playoff hopes alive. Yet, a Bengals' loss to the Steelers would eliminate Cincinnati from the NFL playoff picture.

Step two for the Bengals is the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Denver Broncos who currently hold the AFC's No. 7 seed.

This is not as likely as it may seem. According to Action Network, the Broncos are an 11-point favorite versus the Chiefs as Kansas City is expected to rest their starters.

Finally, the Bengals also need a Miami Dolphins' tie or loss versus the New York Jets. Miami is a slight .5-point underdog in the season finale.

Scenarios for the final AFC Playoff spot:

Broncos (vs. KC): Win or DEN + CIN loss
Dolphins (vs. NYJ): Win + DEN loss
Bengals (vs. PIT): Win + DEN loss + MIA loss pic.twitter.com/9tPJ9znuDu
— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2024

So, how likely is it that the Bengals make the postseason? The Bengals have just a 7% chance to make the NFL playoffs with all three of these scenarios coming to fruition, per The Athletic's computer projections.

The Bengals to make the playoffs parlay is available at +1508...

ANY shot this cashes?

(via @DKSportsbook) pic.twitter.com/YtdfDqdos0
— br_betting (@br_betting) January 4, 2025

The good news for Cincinnati fans is the odds were a lot longer just a few weeks ago before the Bengals' recent surge. Burrow and the Bengals will be major Jets and Chiefs fans on Sunday.

The Bengals' playoff odds jump up to 11% with a win versus the Steelers, per the NFL.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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