Yahoo Sports Who would Bengals play in NFL playoffs? Scenarios, potential wild card matchups
The Cincinnati Bengals refuse to be written off despite a 4-8 start to the 2024 NFL season. Zac Taylor's squad has mounted a four-game winning streak down the stretch and enters Week 18 with a chance to make it into the 2025 NFL playoffs.
Cincinnati's path to the postseason will be challenging. To qualify for the AFC's seven-team field, the Bengals need to win against the 10-6 Pittsburgh Steelers on the road and get help from other teams.
Nonetheless, Joe Burrow and Co. are playing as well as any offense in the NFL right now. As long as Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins remain healthy, the Bengals will have a chance to win and keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Bengals have a specific path into the postseason and no room for error. If they can't outduel the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins for the No. 7 seed, Cincinnati will rue a season of missed opportunities, including seven one-score losses and plenty of games decided by missed kicks.
If Cincinnati somehow gets in, the Bengals will have a first-round matchup that could be one of the best of Super Wild-Card weekend. Here's what to know about Cincinnati's potential opponent and its path to the postseason.
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Who would the Bengals play in playoffs if they make it?
The Bengals can only be the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoff bracket. The Buffalo Bills have already clinched the No. 2 seed in the conference, so if Cincinnati makes it into the postseason, it will travel to Buffalo to face the Bills.
Burrow and Josh Allen have faced each other twice since Burrow came into the league in 2020. The Bengals quarterback has a 2-0 record against the Bills, including a 27-10 playoff win in Buffalo during the 2023 NFL playoffs.
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Bengals playoff scenarios
Only one scenario can get the Bengals into the playoffs and into a matchup with the Bills. It is as follows:
The Bengals need three things to happen in Week 18 to make the playoffs:
The Bengals must defeat the Steelers;
The Broncos must lose to the Kansas City Chiefs;
The Dolphins must lose or tie against the New York Jets.
If that result doesn't occur, the Broncos or Dolphins will make it into the NFL postseason over the Bengals.
Cincinnati is estimated to have just a 6% chance to make the playoffs entering Week 18, according to The Athletic's playoff prediction model.
NFL playoff schedule
The NFL playoffs kick off on Jan. 11 with the league's Super Wild Card Weekend before concluding on Feb. 9 with Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans.
Super Wild Card weekend
All times Eastern
Saturday, Jan. 11
AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.
AFC/NFC wild card game: 8 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 12
AFC/NFC wild card game: 1 p.m.
AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.
AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 13
AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.
Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 18
AFC/NFC divisional game: 4:30 p.m.
AFC/NFC division game: 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 19
AFC/NFC divisional game: 3 p.m.
AFC/NFC divisional game: 6:30 p.m.
NFL conference championship round
Sunday, Jan. 26
NFC championship game: 3 p.m.
AFC championship game: 6:30 p.m.
Super Bowl 59
Date: Feb. 9, 2025
Location: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
Time: 6:30 p.m.
TV: FOX
NFL playoff picture Week 18
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners, No. 1 seed)*
Buffalo Bills (13-3, AFC East winners)*
Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North leaders)*
Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners)*
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, wild card No. 1)*
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, wild card No. 2)*
Denver Broncos (9-7, wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Miami Dolphins (8-8), Cincinnati Bengals (8-8).
NFC
Detroit Lions (14-2, NFC North leaders)*
Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, NFC East winners)*
Los Angeles Rams (10-6, NFC West winners)*
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7, NFC South leaders)
Minnesota Vikings (14-2, wild card No. 1)*
Washington Commanders (11-5, wild card No. 2)*
Green Bay Packers (11-5, wild card No. 3)*
In the hunt: Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who would Bengals play in playoffs? Breaking down wild card scenarios
