A back-and-forth game that saw the Broncos tie it with eight seconds left in regulation on a miracle touchdown pass, along with Cade York doinking a 33-yard field-goal attempt with 2:43 left in overtime, had to have Bengals fans thinking their team was cursed.
But the Bengals found a way to keep their season alive, with Joe Burrow connecting with Tee Higgins in the end zone for the third time with 1:07 left in overtime to give Cincinnati a 30-24 victory Saturday.
The team’s fourth straight win means the Bengals (8-8) will enter Week 18 still with a chance to make the NFL playoffs after their hopes seemed dismal at 4-8, though they will need plenty of help along the way.
Here are the Bengals playoff scenarios entering Sunday’s Week 17 contests.
Bengals must beat Steelers
Nothing else matters if the Bengals don’t take care of business again next week on the road against the AFC North rival Steelers, who won the first matchup, 44-38, in Week 13.
The Steelers (10-6) have lost three in a row but still have a chance to win the division if they beat the Bengals and the Ravens (11-5) lose to the Browns (3-12).
Colts must lose at least once
Quarterback Anthony Richardson is out for Sunday’s game against the Giants (2-13) with back and foot injuries, meaning Joe Flacco goes back under center.
The Colts (7-8) certainly wouldn’t deserve a playoff spot if they lose to the woeful Giants. Assuming they win, they’d get the nearly as woeful Jaguars (3-12) next week, so it’s very feasible for Indianapolis to win out. The Colts also need a Broncos loss to the Chiefs and one of the Bengals or Dolphins to win out to get in on a three-way tiebreaker.
Dolphins must lose at least once
Another team whose playoff hopes are hanging by a thread will be without its starting quarterback in Week 17, as Tua Tagovailoa is doubtful with a hip injury.
But like the Colts, the Dolphins have a theoretically easy matchup against the Browns. Miami then visits the Jets for next week’s finale.
So it’s also quite feasible for the Dolphins to win out, making things that much harder for the Bengals.
Broncos must lose to Chiefs
The Broncos (9-7) are still in the driver’s seat, holding sole possession of the No. 7 seed and the final wild-card spot in the AFC.
They host a Chiefs team next week that has already locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and the question is whether Kansas City will opt to rest star players like quarterback Patrick Mahomes to ensure their health for the playoffs and give them essentially two weeks off as they earned a bye into the divisional round.
All start times for Week 18 games are yet to be determined.
