Just like that, the Cincinnati Bengals are back in the mix.
While Cincinnati picked up that blowout win on the road over the San Francisco 49ers, the following teams in the AFC lost in Week 8: Chiefs, Browns, Steelers, Colts, Texans.
That puts the Bengals in a really nice spot in the AFC North:
- Ravens (6-2)
- Steelers (4-3)
- Browns (4-3)
- Bengals (4-3)
The Browns have a 1-2 record in the division, while the Bengals still have to play four more games in the AFC North this season.
And when it comes to playoff seeding, the Bengals are currently in ninth:
- Chiefs (6-2)
- Dolphins (6-2)
- Jaguars (6-2)
- Ravens (6-2)
- Bills (5-3)
- Steelers (4-3)
- Browns (4-3)
- Jets (4-3)
- Bengals (4-3)
Cincinnati’s 0-2 mark in the division and 0-3 mark in the conference is a big problem. But considering how the season started, the team sitting this close in range of even the top seed in the conference while winners of three straight is pretty fortunate.
Next up, an AFC date with the Bills, then in-conference games against Houston, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Indianapolis before they get a break and play an NFC team again (December 17 vs. Vikings). Then, three more AFC games to close the season.
