What do Bengals need to get in the playoffs? How Joe Burrow and Co. can clinch postseason berth after win vs. Browns

The Cincinnati Bengals' playoff hopes are still alive. On Sunday, they defeated the Cleveland Browns 24-6 behind a 252-yard, three-TD performance by Joe Burrow and two interceptions and five sacks for their third straight win.

After the game, the quarterback said:

“Big game next week puts us in position to make a jump. It feels good to play in big games... It’s exciting to still be in it.”

Meanwhile, wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had just one goal in mind:

“The standard is the AFC Championship. We want to be there.”

The 2023 season was a disappointing one in many aspects, as a slow 1-3 start and then a season-ending wrist injury to their star passer derailed any real hopes that they would make it to the playoffs for the third straight time. But 2024 was even worse, as a three-game skid set a more somber tone: a glimmer of hope provided by a win or two, then another loss and a fall back to reality.

But now here the Bengals are, finding themselves two games behind .500. They face a greatly difficult task if they want to return to the playoffs after a year's absence. So how will they make it happen? Or more accurately, what must they do?

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Bengals' playoff chances after win vs. Browns

The first prerequisite requires winning their last two games against the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. That first victory will be very crucial because it will be used in tiebreaks once the regular season ends.

Even that, however, will not be enough. The Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, and Miami Dolphins are still in contention as well, and a five-way tie at 9-8 between them, the Bengals, and Broncos will favor the Colts and Dolphins via multiple tiebreaks:

Not even sweeping the last two games can save the Bengals

The question remains: how can the city of Cincinnati enjoy January football again?

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Bengals' playoff scenario after win vs. Browns

As mentioned before, the team must sweep the remaining two games. However, they must also hope that the Dolphins and Colts lose at least one of their next games. Said loss does not even have to be at the very next game - it can happen as late as the season finale.

How the Bengals can reach the playoffs

If that happens, then the win-over-the-other tiebreaker will kick in, giving the Bengals the final Wild Card spot over the Broncos. That same tiebreaker, however, will also prioritize the Chargers on the matter of the sixth seed.