They didn’t make it easy, but the Cincinnati Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a thrilling win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15.
In the process, the Bengals improved to 8-6 and jumped into the sixth spot in the AFC playoff picture following their victory.
With a tough schedule on the horizon, what do the Bengals need to do going forward if they are going to make it to the postseason?
Cincinnati Bengals Playoff Chances – Week 15 Update
Note that this article was originally published on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 4:55 p.m. ET after the Bengals Week 15 game began. The results of this week’s games are below and will continue to be updated throughout the day.
After the Sunday slate in Week 15, the Bengals remain the No. 6 seed in the AFC.
Thursday Games
Raiders (6-8) defeated Chargers (5-9)
Saturday Games
Bengals (8-6) defeated Vikings (7-7)
Colts (8-6) defeated Steelers (7-7)
Lions (10-4) defeated Broncos (7-7)
1 p.m. Games Update
Dolphins (10-4) defeated Jets (5-9)
Chiefs (9-5) defeated Patriots (3-11)
Texans (8-6) defeated Titans (5-9)
Browns (9-5) defeated Bears (5-9)
4 p.m. Games Update
Bills (8-6) defeated Cowboys (10-4)
Sunday Night Football Game Update
Ravens (11-3) defeated Jaguars (8-6)
Keep reading below to see the playoff scenarios for the Bengals entering Saturday of Week 15. And head over to PFN’s free NFL Playoff Predictor to test various scenarios and see how they change the playoff picture.
What are the Cincinnati Bengals Playoff Scenarios After Their Week 15 Victory?
After a 1-3 start, sitting in the sixth spot in the AFC standings at two games over .500 after their 27-24 overtime victory against the Vikings has to feel good for the Bengals.
While the Bengals will be celebrating a stunning comeback victory in Week 15, they will also have half an eye on the remaining games on this NFL Saturday.
The outcome of those two games could have huge ramifications on where the Bengals sit when Week 15 is all said and done. If the Indianapolis Colts defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions defeat the Denver Broncos, Cincinnati will head to Week 16 as the sixth seed in the AFC, regardless of what happens on Sunday.
However, the Bengals will know that the job is not done with a tough schedule remaining in the coming weeks. Cincinnati must now go on the road to face the aforementioned Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs (8-5 through Week 14) before heading home for a Week 18 game with the Cleveland Browns.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
That run of games will ultimately determine whether the Bengals are playing in the postseason this year, but they at least gave themselves a cushion with this victory.
A loss to the Vikings would have left the Bengals in a situation where they almost certainly had to go 3-0 in those last three weeks to make the playoffs.
Do Cincinnati Bengals Need To Win Out?
After their standalone game in the 1 p.m. window, the Bengals’ remaining strength of schedule (.590) was still the seventh-hardest in football.
But that might be a blessing in disguise. With games against three teams ahead of them in the standings — including the Steelers and Browns in the division — they can make up ground.
They could potentially finish ahead of both Cleveland and Pittsburgh in the AFC North but would need some help to do that, even if they finished the season on a six-game winning streak.
Why? Their key tiebreakers are weak. The Bengals have already lost head-to-head games against Pittsburgh and Cleveland and can finish no better than 2-4 in the AFC North. The Steelers and Browns already have three division wins.
That’s why a 10-7 record is not necessarily enough for the Bengals to get in.
If they beat the Steelers and Browns but lose to the Chiefs, the Bengals would likely need at least one other loss by the Steelers over the season’s final four games — or have the Browns lose three out of four down the stretch — to get in.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!
