The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers added another great game to a great collection of primetime games in 2025. The Bengals and Steelers put on a show with the Bengals squeezing out an upset win on an Evan McPherson go-ahead field goal with seven seconds remaining. The Steelers had a chance for a knockout punch in the AFC North, but left the door open for the Bengals to make a run at them.
The Ravens even got a boost from the Bengals’ victory, as a Steelers win would’ve likely buried Baltimore’s playoff hopes. Take a look at the playoff implications of Cincinnati’s victory on Thursday night.
What Does the Bengals’ Win Mean for the AFC North?
The Bengals’ win shook up the playoff odds. A five-game losing streak could have seemingly ended their season, but Evan McPherson knocked in a game-winning field goal. Now, they sit one game behind the Steelers in the AFC North.
MONEY MAC PUTS US IN FRONT
📺: #PITvsCIN on @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/XzV2xYMB0w
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 17, 2025
The Bengals’ win made a massive impact on their playoff outlook; their odds jumped to 27.1 percent, up 8.5 points. Heading into Thursday Night Football, a loss could’ve all but ended their divisional hopes. Instead, their AFC North chances nearly doubled, climbing from 8.4 percent to 16.9 percent after the win.
The Steelers couldn’t close out the Bengals early, and it might cost them more than just a win. Pittsburgh’s playoff odds slid by 12.4 points to 77 percent, while their division odds dropped 17.2 points to 67.8 percent. They still hold the inside track in the AFC North, but a brutal upcoming schedule means there’s little room for error.
They also lost ground in the battle for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They have an 8.5 percent chance of being the top seed in the conference. Their odds stood 8.5 percentage points higher entering Thursday night. Of course, the Steelers and Bengals saw their odds greatly affected, but it also helped the Browns and Ravens at the bottom of the division.
The Ravens were huge winners as they are only three games behind the Steelers. They are 1-5, which is a tough hole to get out of, but Lamar Jackson is returning soon, and an easier schedule has opened the door for a potential resurgence. Their playoff odds entering the game were 8.8 percent and rose to 9.2. It isn’t a big increase here, but their divisional odds rose from 5.2 percent to 6.8.
The Ravens have plenty of work to do, but they have a little bit of life. If they can rattle off some wins in a row, they will see themselves creep up the standings and potentially make a shocking run at the postseason.
The Browns also saw their odds increase. They moved from a 3.9 percent chance at the playoffs to 4.3, and their divisional odds increased from 1.4 percent to 2.2. The Browns have struggled throughout 2025 and likely don’t have the roster to make a run at the postseason, but their odds took a jump with the Steelers’ loss.
The AFC North will be a division to monitor over the next few weeks. The Steelers could bounce back and rack up victories to inch closer to a division title, or they could struggle as the Ravens and Bengals look to threaten the Steelers’ grasp of the division lead. The Bengals made it interesting, and only time will tell if this game was a turning point for these AFC North squads for the rest of the season.