The Cincinnati Bengals could be a few days removed from clinching a playoff berth.
Currently the third seed in the AFC, the Bengals have sights on stealing the top overall seed in the playoffs.
Funnily enough before that, though, they can lock in a playoff berth on Thursday night thanks to the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets.
If the 7-7 Jets go down on primetime, the Bengals guarantee themselves a playoff spot, at a minimum. Currently only the Chiefs and Bills (both 11-3), the two teams in front of the Bengals in the standings, have locked in postseason tickets.
The Jets have lost three in a row amid quarterback turmoil and otherwise. The Jaguars have won three of their last four as Trevor Lawerence surges, so there’s a good chance the Bengals secure a playoff spot before they even take the field against the Patriots next weekend.
Officially securing is nice, of course, but the Bengals can still move around in the seedings based on results once locked-in, hence Burrow’s comments about winning out to secure the No. 1 seed.
Here are your clinching scenarios for week 16: pic.twitter.com/WVe0uibznv
— NFLPlayoffScenarios (@NFLScenarios) December 19, 2022
