How can Cincinnati Bengals make the playoffs? Exploring all scenarios for Joe Burrow and co ahead of Week 18

Entering the 2024 regular season, the Cincinnati Bengals were considered favorites to make a deep postseason run. The Bengals are perennial playoff contenders, and they have one of the best one-two offensive punches in football with Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase.

However, this season hasn't gone according to plan, and the Bengals are just hanging on to their playoff hopes entering Week 18. Cincinnati is 8-8 ahead of its last game of the regular season and will need some help from other teams to make the postseason.

Thus, ahead of Week 18, let's examine the scenarios needed for the Bengals to enter the playoffs.

How do the Cincinnati Bengals make the playoffs?

The Cincinnati Bengals must win their last game of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) to make the playoffs. That'll be Joe Burrow and Co.'s fifth straight win, an impressive achievement. However, they'll need astonishing luck to sneak into the postseason.

Next, the Bengals need the Miami Dolphins to lose their Week 18 road game against the eliminated New York Jets. The Dolphins are currently 8-8, and a loss will drop them to 8-9, thereby giving the Bengals the edge in the battle for the final wildcard slot.

Furthermore, they'll need the Denver Broncos to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18. This might be a tough ask since the Chiefs will likely rest their starters after securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Thus, the Broncos will have all the motivation needed ahead of their last game of the regular season.

If the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos lose while the Bengals win, the Bengals will qualify for the playoffs as the seventh-best team in the AFC.

How did the Cincinnati Bengals get here?

No matter the results in Week 18, the Bengals performed well below their preseason expectations. The team was tipped to be one of the squads to beat in the conference, but now it needs help from an eliminated and out-of-sorts Jets unit and their sworn rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, to qualify for the postseason.

The Bengals' season turning point was their two three-game losing streaks. They opened the season with a losing streak after dropping matchups against the New England Patriots, Chiefs and Washington Commanders. They endured another losing streak between Weeks 10 and 13 after dropping games to the Baltimore Ravens, LA Chargers and Steelers.

So, the Cincinnati Bengals might spend the playoffs at home despite Joe Burrow having an MVP-caliber season and Ja'Marr Chase being on the verge of the Triple Crown. They'll need a startling amount of luck in Week 18 to avoid such a letdown.