Bengals Still Alive in Playoff Race Entering Week 18 vs. Steelers
The Cincinnati Bengals are still alive for a playoff spot as they enter Week 18, when they’ll visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bengals defeated the Denver Broncos in a 30-24 overtime thriller on Saturday to stay alive in the playoff race, when Joe Burrow connected with Tee Higgins for a walk-off touchdown.
The Bengals needed a win to stay alive after the Los Angeles Chargers won to clinch the sixth AFC playoff spot earlier on Saturday.
The Broncos needed a win to lock up the final spot. Instead, Denver and Cincinnati will each be in the mix in the final week of the season. The Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins can also remain in the mix with wins on Sunday.
The Steelers can clinch the AFC North and the No. 3 seed with a win over the Bengals and Baltimore Ravens loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Thanks to the Denver loss, the Steelers cannot finish worse than the No. 6 seed. They can finish no worse than fifth with a win against Cincinnati.
STEELERS IN AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
1. Kansas City Chiefs 15-1
2. Buffalo Bills 12-3
3. Baltimore Ravens 11-5
4. Houston Texans 9-7
–
5. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6
6. Los Angeles Chargers 10-6
7. Denver Broncos 9-7
~
8. Cincinnati Bengals 8-8
9. Indianapolis Colts 7-8
10. Miami Dolphins 7-8
~
11. New York Jets 4-11
12. Las Vegas Raiders 3-12
13. Cleveland Browns 3-12
14. Jacksonville Jaguars 3-12
15. Tennessee Titans 3-12
16. New England Patriots 3-13
AFC NORTH STANDINGS
| Overall | AFC North | AFC | Head-to-head | |
| Ravens | 11-5 | 3-2 | 7-4 | CIN 2-0, CLE 0-1, PIT 1-1 |
| Steelers | 10-6 | 3-2 | 7-4 | BAL 1-1, CIN 1-0, CLE 1-1 |
| Bengals | 8-8 | 2-3 | 5-6 | BAL 0-2, CLE 2-0, PIT 0-1 |
| Browns | 3-12 | 2-3 | 3-7 | BAL 1-0, CIN, 0-2, PIT 1-1 |
Read This Next
