Bengals playoff picture: Updated chances for Cincinnati to make 2025 NFL postseason in Week 14 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cincinnati Bengals are in danger of missing the AFC playoffs for a third consecutive season with quarterback Joe Burrow following back-to-back division titles and a Super Bowl 56 berth.
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The Bengals finished 9-8 in both 2023 and 2024. They will need to win out over the final five games to match that record in 2025. This time in the NFL regular season, that might be good enough to steal the AFC North.
Here’s the latest look at the Bengals’ still slim postseason chances with Burrow back healthy for the final stretch run:
MORE:Predicting the 2025 NFL playoff picture heading into Week 14
Bengals playoff picture
The Bengals (4-8) are hard-pressed to win an AFC wild-card berth given the Chargers, Colts and Bills hold those three slots at 8-4, four games ahead with five left to play.
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Cincinnati is buried behind the top seven playoff-positioned teams as the 12th of 14 teams still alive, with winning the weak AFC North the only real remaining playoff path.
Rank
Team
Record
1
New England Patriots
11-2
2
Denver Broncos
10-2
3
Jacksonville Jaguars
8-4
4
Baltimore Ravens
6-6
5
Los Angeles Chargers
8-4
6
Indianapolis Colts
8-4
7
Buffalo Bills
8-4
8
Houston Texans
7-5
9
Pittsburgh Steelers
6-6
10
Kansas City Chiefs
6-6
11
Miami Dolphins
5-7
12
Cincinnati Bengals
4-8
13
New York Jets
3-9
14
Cleveland Browns
3-9
15
Las Vegas Raiders
2-10
16
Tennessee Titans
1-11
AFC North standings
Every team in the division still alive to win the division going into Week 14. The Ravens (6-6) lead by just the common-games tiebreaker over the Steelers (6-6). The Bengals (4-8) are two games behind and the Browns (3-9) are three games behind.
Every team has had its bye, leaving four games after Week 14. The Bengals Ravens and Steelers all have two division games left. Cincinnati has a 3-1 division record, which will be matched by whoever wins between Pittsburgh and Baltimore in Week 14.
Team
Record
Baltimore Ravens
6-6
Pittsburgh Steelers
6-6
Cincinnati Bengals
4-8
Cleveland Browns
3-9
MORE WEEK 14 NFL:
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Bengals remaining schedule
The Bengals have a difficult Week 14 game as underdogs the Bills, but they will be favored in their four remaining games, three at home and one at Miami. There’s a fair chance for them to win out and make the division rice come down to the wire vs. the Ravens and Steelers.
Week
Opponent
14
at Bills
15
vs. Ravens
16
at Dolphins
17
vs. Cardinals
18
vs. Browns