CINCINNATI — After missing two months due to injury, Joe Burrow finally made his return to the field on Thursday night and he stole the show in Baltimore. The Bengals quarterback threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns in a shocking 32-14 win over the Ravens.
It was such a dominant win that the rest of the Bengals’ season just got very interesting.
At 4-8, the Bengals’ playoff hopes are on life support, but if anyone can save the team it’s Burrow. The Bengals quarterback has now gone almost a full year without losing a game. Since Week 14 of the 2024 season, the Bengals have gone 8-0 with Burrow as their starter, including Thursday’s win over the Ravens.
If that run can continue, Cincinnati could end up pulling off one of the most improbable playoff berths in NFL history. With just five games left to play in the season, Burrow fully realizes that there’s no margin for error going forward.
“It’s no secret that every game from here on out is basically a must win, especially in the division,” Burrow told NBC following the Bengals’ win. “It was great to get this one, coming off a short week.”
As things stand now, the Bengals have a 2.2% chance of making the postseason, according to the odds from SportsLine.
If the Bengals are going to make the playoffs, they really only have one option: They have to win the AFC North.
For most 4-8 teams, the idea of winning the division is laughable, but luckily for the Bengals, the AFC North has turned into the division that no one wants to win this year.
The Bengals were 4-8 at one point last year before running off five straight wins to end the season, so the team certainly knows what it takes to get hot.
So what would have to happen for the Bengals to steal the division title? Let’s take a look at the most plausible scenario, but first, let’s check out the division standings.
|
AFC North Standings |
Overall record |
Division record |
Conference record |
|
Steelers |
6-5 |
2-1 |
5-2 |
|
Ravens |
6-6 |
2-1 |
4-4 |
|
Bengals |
4-8 |
3-1 |
4-4 |
|
Browns |
3-8 |
0-4 |
2-6 |
The Steelers are in first place at 6-5, but they play the Bills on Sunday, and if they lose that game, they’ll fall into a tie at 6-6 with the Ravens. At that point, the Bengals would be just two games out of first place.
It won’t be easy, but here’s the most plausible scenario that would end with the Bengals winning the division.
BENGALS
Remaining opponents: at Bills (Win), Ravens (Win), Dolphins (Win), Cardinals (Win), Browns (Win)
What has to happen: This one is easy, the Bengals have to run the table and win their final five games.
Final record: 9-8, 5-1 in division
RAVENS
Remaining opponents: Steelers (Win), at Bengals (Loss), Patriots (Loss), at Packers (Win), at Steelers (Win)
What has to happen: The Bengals need the Ravens to go 3-2 (or worse) over their final five games. Since the Bengals have to sweep the Ravens, that means that Cincinnati only needs Baltimore to lose one other game on the schedule, so let’s say they lose to the Patriots. We also have the Ravens splitting their two games with the Steelers.
Final record: 9-8, 4-2 in division
STEELERS
Remaining opponents: Bills (Loss), at Ravens (Loss), Dolphins (Win), at Lions (Loss), at Browns (Win), Ravens (Win)
What has to happen: The Steelers have a brutal schedule down the stretch, so it’s not totally unrealistic to see them going 3-3 down the stretch. They’re an underdog to the Bills and they’ll likely be an underdog to the Lions. If they lose both of those games and split with the Ravens, that will put them at 9-8.
Final record: 9-8, 4-2 in division
Like I said at the top, there’s only a 2% chance of the Bengals getting into the playoffs, so please cue the Lloyd Christmas meme.
Burrow led the Bengals to a 2-0 record to start the season before missing nine games due to a turf toe injury and the team went just 1-8 in his absence. The Bengals star quarterback was originally expected to return in mid-December, but he defied the odds by making an early return, and now he’ll be looking to defy the odds once again by leading the Bengals to an improbable playoff berth. He got the first win out of the way on Thanksgiving night, and now, he just needs to win the Bengals to five more.
