Hey everyone, it’s your boy back again with another wild ride! Today, we’re diving deep into the nail-biting world of the Cincinnati Bengals and their playoff chances. Man, what a season it’s been, right?
So, I started by checking out what the folks at DraftKings were saying. They gave the Bengals a +850 odds to make the postseason. Yeah, I know, sounds a bit complicated, but it basically means there’s about a 10.53% chance they’re getting in. Not the best, but hey, we’ve seen crazier things happen, right?
Then, I dug into their recent games. Remember that overtime win against the Broncos in Week 17? What a thriller! And that gritty win in Pittsburgh in Week 18? These guys have been fighting tooth and nail. It’s like every game is a final for them.
I saw that according to The New York Times, the Bengals only had a 4% chance of making the playoffs. But, get this, that number jumped to 7% with the win over Pittsburgh. It’s a small increase, but in this game, every little bit counts.
It’s not just about winning games; it’s about who else is losing. The Bengals also needed the Dolphins to lose. It seemed possible because Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t playing, and the kickoff temperature was expected to be just 35 degrees. You know, the Dolphins haven’t been great in the cold – they’ve lost 12 straight when it’s under 40 degrees at kickoff.
Next, I looked at potential opponents. If the Bengals do make it, they’ll be the AFC’s No. 7 seed. The Buffalo Bills, yeah, that’s a tough one.
I also checked out some other sources, and they were saying similar things. The Bengals’ playoff hopes were still alive after that win against Denver. But it’s not just about them winning; they also need some other teams to lose. It’s like a big puzzle, and all the pieces need to fall into place.
And then there’s this whole thing with the Denver Broncos needing to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs. I mean, the Chiefs are on fire, coming off a 29-10 thrashing of the Steelers and they’ve already clinched the number one seed. It’s a lot to keep track of, I tell ya.
The Bottom Line
The Bengals have a shot, a small one, but a shot nonetheless. They need to win, and they need some other results to go their way. It’s going to be a wild ride to the finish line, and I’m here for it. Let’s see how this all plays out, folks! What do you guys think? Are you feeling hopeful, or is it too much of a long shot?
