Can the Bengals Make the NFL Playoffs? A Look at Whether Cincinnati Has Been Eliminated

With one week left to play, do the Cincinnati Bengals have a chance to reach the AFC? Can they qualify for the postseason with an outright victory, or will they need help from other teams to keep their season alive?

When Did the Cincinnati Bengals Get Eliminated From the 2025 NFL Playoffs

There’s only one playoff spot up for grabs, and that’s for the AFC North title. However, while the Bengals are in that division, they cannot proceed further than Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns.

Cincinnati’s postseason hopes ended after a 24-0 shutout loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15. That defeat dropped the Bengals to 4-10 and marked their 10th loss in their last 12 games.

Worst yet, it’s the first time they failed to put points on the board since September 2017. Coming up with nothing against Baltimore also translated to missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

As a consolation, the Bengals won back-to-back games after that definitive loss to the Ravens. Though they have a chance to close their campaign with a three-game winning streak, Cincinnati has been on a free fall after reaching Super Bowl 56. It’s another wasted season for a talent-laden team, especially on offense.

Joe Burrow’s Injury Doomed Cincinnati

The Bengals always have a chance to win when Joe Burrow is on the field. That’s what they get from the two-time Pro Bowler who led the league in passing yards and touchdown throws last season.

However, the team’s failure to protect their prized quarterback in the pocket lingers, even though the sacks they’ve allowed have decreased from 48 in 2024 to 34 as of Week 17 of 2025.

While the Bengals were officially eliminated in Week 15, their demise started in Week 2 after Burrow took a sack against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He did not finish that game, and further medical examination discovered that he suffered a turf toe injury with significant ligament damage.

This condition had Burrow sidelined from Weeks 3 to 12, which turned out to be a death sentence for the Bengals’ season. Over that stretch, Cincinnati won only one of nine games: Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That could have also been a loss if not for Evan McPherson’s 36-yard game-winning field goal.

Bengals Defense Can’t Stop Anyone

The Bengals have no problems scoring on offense, thanks to the likes of Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. Through Week 17, they ranked 12th among NFL teams, averaging 24.8 points per game.

Conversely, the Cincinnati defense failed to fulfill its end of the deal. Heading into their regular-season finale, the Bengals are giving up 29.5 points per game. Only the Dallas Cowboys (29.8) have a worse average. The Bengals are ranked second-last in PFSN’s NFL Defense Impact Metric.

A solid performance from their defense helps them win, as evidenced by the 20.5 points per game allowed in their six victories. In contrast, they’ve given up 34.9 points per game in their ten losses, including two games wherein they’ve surrendered more than 40 points.

Losing longtime coordinator Lou Anarumo to the Indianapolis Colts could be part of the Bengals’ defensive woes. But upgrading their roster on this side of the ball, along with their offensive line, boosts Cincinnati’s chances of a playoff return in 2026.