Bengals' Long-Shot Path to AFC North Title Starts This Sunday
The Cincinnati Bengals, currently 4-9, have a slim but possible chance to win the AFC North by winning their remaining games and relying on favorable outcomes for other teams in their division.
The Cincinnati Bengals are 4-9 with the 10th overall pick in their back pocket. But buried in the mathematical wreckage of their season sits an improbable lifeline: a realistic path to winning the AFC North at 8-9.
It begins this week, and it's non-negotiable. If the Bengals lose to the Baltimore Ravens, they're eliminated from playoff contention entirely. A win, however, changes everything.
The Blueprint for Survival
Cincinnati hosts Baltimore this weekend after demolishing the Ravens 18 points in Baltimore two weeks ago on Thanksgiving. A victory would put the Bengals just one game behind Baltimore and give them the head-to-head tiebreaker—needing only to match the Ravens' record to surpass them at season's end.
The Ravens face a brutal stretch ahead: games against the Patriots, then road trips to Green Bay and Pittsburgh. The Steelers, currently atop the division at 7-6, aren't in a picnic either—they face Miami, Detroit, and division games against Cleveland and Baltimore.
The Bengals' remaining schedule is comparatively manageable: Miami, Arizona, and Cleveland.
Still a Long Shot, But Not Impossible
Winning out would give Cincinnati a 5-1 division record and potentially the tiebreaker advantage they'd need.
Is it likely? No. The Bengals have been outscored by nearly 100 points this season. But they have Joe Burrow back, and they very nearly beat Buffalo last week in a game they led for most of the contest. At 16-to-1 odds—a $10 bet returns $170—there's genuine value in a team capable of winning four straight games.
PICK: Bengals (+1600) to win the AFC North
