The Cincinnati Bengals let another game get away from them in ways that only they can, this week against the Buffalo Bills. The Bengals lost 39-34, with Joe Burrow throwing four touchdowns and, for the majority of the game, shredding the Bills’ defense. At the end of the day, however, the Bills won and essentially ended the Bengals’ season.
How Did This Loss Impact The Bengals’ Playoff Chances?
The Bengals dropped to 4-9 on the season after this loss to the Bills. They are now three games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North and two games behind the Baltimore Ravens, who remain in second place. Losing this game essentially ended the Bengals’ hopes of making the playoffs.
Before this week’s games started, the Bengals had a 7.9% chance of making the playoffs, which could have risen to around 15% with a win. Instead, they did what they have done many times this year, letting the Bills come back and beat them in the fourth quarter.
With the loss, the Bengals’ playoff chances are essentially over. After the 4 p.m. games, their chances of making the postseason are 2.5%. They would need to win their next four games against the Ravens, Dolphins, Cardinals, and Browns while the Steelers lose three of their next four. That scenario is unlikely, as evidenced by the odds.
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This season will be another in a line of disappointing campaigns since the Bengals made the AFC Championship Game in 2022. They haven’t returned to the playoffs since, and Burrow has been injured and missed significant time twice. He was healthy for the 2024 season, but the defense struggled, and the team went 9-8, missing the playoffs.
How will the Bengals finish the season over the final four games? Only time will tell if they can go 4-0 and put pressure on the Steelers. If this season has shown us anything about this Bengals team, it’s that they will likely lose at least one of these games in some strange and heartbreaking fashion. Fans will be watching to see how it unfolds.
