The Cincinnati Bengals They may need to win to get into the playoffs as their record is 4-7 heading into the bye week.
Not an easy task, to say the least – but some people don't give up.
When asked which team under .500 still has the best chance of making the playoffs, ESPN responded still took the Bengals:
I have to say the Bengals, even though I don't think they can get there anymore. If things fall apart for some of the teams at the end of the AFC race and Cincinnati has the edge to sneak in, it will be a formidable opponent because it has a championship-caliber offense. (And if the Bengals top the table, I have to expect the defense to play better).
If the Bengals could just find a way to field a league-average defense during the bye week, a playoff push would still be a slim chance — assuming Joe Burrow can continue at his MVP level.
Outside of the bye, the Bengals play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13, one of five AFC teams remaining on the schedule in the last six games.
With a little help in an AFC that is anything but good, the Bengals could still make a breakthrough, but the inability to finish games against good teams looms large.
