The Road Ahead for the Cincinnati Bengals

Nov 11, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis during the second half against the New York Giants at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals defeated the Giants 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-US PRESSWIRE

Sunday’s win over the giants was not only important in giving this young Bengals team their first signature win, but also keeping their slim playoff hopes alive. While given their recent 4-game losing streak and the fact that their 2 games back of the Steelers and Colts for a Wild Card playoff spot, they have a great chance to get back in the hunt for the postseason in the coming weeks.

Here is the remaining Bengals Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Record	Time	Location
11	Sun, Nov 18	@ Chiefs	1-8	1:00 PM	Arrowhead Stadium
12	Sun, Nov 25	Raiders	3-6	1:00 PM	Paul Brown Stadium
13	Sun, Dec 2	@ Chargers	4-5	4:25 PM	Qualcomm Stadium
14	Sun, Dec 9	Cowboys	4-5	1:00 PM	Paul Brown Stadium
15	Thu, Dec 13	@ Eagles	3-6	8:20 PM	LincolnFinancial Field
16	Sun, Dec 23	@ Steelers	6-3	1:00 PM	Heinz Field
17	Sun, Dec 30	Ravens	7-2	1:00 PM	Paul Brown Stadium

And here’s the current standings of the top 9 AFC teams who have a realistic shot at still making the postseason:

	AFC Team	W	L	T		TD	Home	Road	Division	Conference	Non-Conf	Streak	Last 5
1.	Houston Texans	8	1	0	.889	29	4-1	4-0	2-0	7-0	1-1	3W	4-1
2.	Baltimore Ravens	7	2	0	.778	29	5-0	2-2	3-0	6-1	1-1	2W	4-1
3.	New England Patriots	6	3	0	.667	34	3-1	3-2	3-0	5-1	1-2	3W	4-1
4.	Denver Broncos	6	3	0	.667	33	3-1	3-2	2-0	4-2	2-1	4W	4-1
5.	Indianapolis Colts	6	3	0	.667	19	4-1	2-2	2-1	4-2	2-1	4W	4-1
6.	Pittsburgh Steelers	6	3	0	.667	21	4-0	2-3	1-0	3-3	3-0	4W	4-1
7.	San Diego Chargers	4	5	0	.444	23	2-2	2-3	3-1	4-2	0-3	1L	1-4
8.	Miami Dolphins	4	5	0	.444	19	2-2	2-3	1-1	3-4	1-1	2L	3-2
9.	Cincinnati Bengals	4	5	0	.444	25	2-3	2-2	1-3	2-5	2-0	1W	1-4

As you can see, the Bengals next 5 opponents are a combined 15-30. If the Bengals can go 3-2 or even 4-1 in that stretch, they could enter the Week 16 showdown with Pittsburgh at 7-7 hopes of a wining record still alive. If the enter the game at 8-6, there will almost certainly be playoff implications in that game, and that would make Week 16 essentially a playoff game between the Steelers and the Bengals, with the loser eliminated from contention, and the winner likely solidifying a playoff berth, and depending on what the Ravens do from here on out, the Bengals may have an outside chance of playing for the AFC North crown when the two teams square off in Cincinnati in Week 17.

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