Bengals Playoff Picture: Chaos is now Cincinnati's only friend

December football is upon the NFL, and fans of the Cincinnati Bengals wish it was already January. 

Three straight losses for the Bengals have completely changed the dynamic of what was hoped to be a Super Bowl season. That's the reality when your quarterback is out for the year, and his backup is significantly worse in comparison.

Despite the bleak outlook, the season is not technically over for the Bengals, and no one in that locker room wants to quit with six games remaining. Here's what the current playoff picture for the AFC looks like, and how the Bengals can miraculously claw their way back into the mix. 

AFC playoff picture if the season ended today:

1. Baltimore Ravens (9-3) - 1st AFC North
2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) - 1st AFC West
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3) - 1st AFC South
4. Miami Dolphins (8-3) - 1st AFC East
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4) - Wild Card
6. Cleveland Browns (7-4) - Wild Card
7. Indianapolis Colts (6-5) - Wild Card

In the hunt:

• Houston Texans (6-5)
• Denver Broncos (6-5)
• Buffalo Bills (6-6)
• Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)
• Las Vegas Raiders (5-7)
• Los Angeles Chargers (4-7)
• Tennessee Titans (4-7)
• New York Jets (4-7)

The Ravens continue to hold both the top spot in the AFC North and the entire AFC after their sixth win in seven weeks. Their bye week has finally arrived this week, which gives the Chiefs a chance to take back the No. 1 seed with a win over the Green Bay Packers. 

A loss to the Jaguars brings the Houston Texans back out of the playoff picture, but they still hold a tiebreaker over the Bengals thanks to their head-to-head victory two Sundays ago. The Bills and Broncos are also ahead of the Bengals in the hunt, though a bye week for the Bills gives a chance for the Bengals to jump them.

Cincinnati's Week 14 matchup with the Colts also has a chance to impact the playoff picture at that time. 

Will the Bengals make the playoffs?

They probably, almost certainly, cannot lose anymore games. Maybe one more loss at most, but that's it! SumerSports.com gives them a 2% chance at making the postseason. Winning out would put them at 11-6, and they'd likely still be behind the Ravens in the division. A wild card berth with that record is entirely possible, but is winning six straight with Jake Browning at quarterback possible?

Chaos is their best option, and that's not reliable. 

Can Cincinnati win the AFC North?

It's time to put this question to bed. They are 0-4 in the division and are two games behind the second and third place teams. 0% chance it happens now.

There will be a new champion of the AFC North this year.

Bengals’ remaining schedule:

• at Jacksonville Jaguars
• vs. Indianapolis Colts
• vs. Minnesota Vikings
• at Pittsburgh Steelers
• at Kansas City Chiefs
• vs. Cleveland Browns