The Cincinnati Bengals play the Buffalo Bills this week in another must-win game if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Bengals enter this game with a 4-8 record and have a 7.9% chance of making the playoffs. The Bills are sitting at 8-4 and one of the top teams in the AFC.
This game, like every game, will have significant consequences on their playoff chances. Let’s take a look at just how much this game can change their playoff chances.
Bengals Playoff Chances If They Win?
The Bengals looked reenergized in Joe Burrow’s first game back against the Ravens. The defense played its best game of the year. They forced five turnovers and never let the Ravens’ offense get going.
The offense got on track and started making plays. Burrow started the game a little rusty, but got it going quickly and really played well in the second half, ultimately dominating the Ravens to a 32-14 win.
This week, the Bills come to town, and the Bengals need to play with the same type of intensity on defense to slow down a great Bills offense. What would winning this game mean for the Bengals in the playoff picture?
Currently, the Bengals have a 7.9% chance of making the playoffs, but if they secure another big win against Buffalo this week, that number would increase to a 15.10% chance of making the playoffs.
Bengals Playoff Chances If They Lose?
This won’t be an easy game for the Bengals. They have played very well against the Bills in the Burrow Era. They have played two complete games and one game that was stopped because of the tragic Damar Hamlin injury, winning both of those games.
One of those games was in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. If the Bengals want to return to the playoffs again this year, they need to improve their record to 3-0 against the Bills with Burrow.
Losing this game would likely be the end of the Bengals’ playoff hopes. It wouldn’t take them down to no chance of making it, but it would drop it down significantly. Currently, the Bengals have a 7.9% chance of making the playoffs, but if they lose this game, their chances will drop by more than half to just a 3.5% chance of making the playoffs.
Bengals fans are back to believing the Bengals can make the playoffs and are all in on the rest of the season. However, those hopes all start this week with their game against the Bills. The Bengals are ranked 22nd while the Bills are ranked fifth according to PFSN’s Offense Impact.
Winning this game essentially doubles the Bengals’ playoff chances, while losing it cuts them in half. Can the Bengals continue their winning ways against the Bills, or will their luck run out?
