This is off the Bengals' weekly press release. It's complicated, but very interesting.
The Bengals at 9-7 will qualify for the postseason if:
1) The N.Y. Jets lose at home to Oakland, falling to 9-7,
or
2) Denver goes to 9-7 with a loss at home to San Francisco,
and Kansas City rises to 9-7 with a home win against
Jacksonville.
Either 1) or 2) gets the Bengals in the playoffs, but both scenarios must occur for the Bengals to get the first Wild Card. If only one occurs, the Bengals will be the second Wild Card.
Here are the explanations behind the two scenarios:
1) A Jets loss means that among possible contenders for two Wild Card spots, only Denver could finish above 9-7. If Denver claims the first Wild Card at 10-6, the Bengals would win any tie for the second spot based on conference record (7-5). No team (Bengals playoff scenario, continued) among Kansas City, Jacksonville, Tennessee or the Jets could be above 6-6. If Denver loses and joins a pack at 9-7, the Bengals could claim the first Wild Card. The key for Cincinnati is that Kansas City would also have to win, because all ties must first be broken within a division, and Chiefs would eliminate Denver based on AFC West record. In the next step, Bengals would take the first Wild Card based on best conference record. If Kansas City is not involved, Denver still gets the first Wild Card at 9-7, based on conference record (8-4), and Cincinnati would take the second Wild Card based on second-best conference record.
2) This scenario presumes a Jets win, in which case Jets would take first Wild Card at 10-6. But as long as Kansas City wins to tie a losing Denver team at 9-7, the Broncos in any tie among 9-7 teams cannot take advantage of their best overall conference record (8-4) or their head-to-head win over the
Bengals. The Broncos are first eliminated in the same AFC West tiebreak described above in 1). Jacksonville would be eliminated because it lost to Kansas City and finished 8-8. The next tiebreaker would involve Cincinnati, Kansas City, and possibly Tennessee. If the Titans defeat visiting New England to make it a three-way tie, the Bengals take the second Wild Card based on best conference record. If the Titans lose and it’s just Cincinnati
vs. Kansas City, the Bengals take the second Wild Card based on head-to-head play.
If the Jets and Denver both win, they will both be 10-6 and the Bengals cannot qualify. Denver would claim the first Wild Card
with a better conference record, and the Jets would be the second Wild Card.
This is from a Bengals' standpoint, but I would love nothing better than to avoid Denver in the playoffs. I still think Denver will beat SF, but in case the 49ers pull off the upset, this info comes in handy.
Bob G
The Bengals at 9-7 will qualify for the postseason if:
1) The N.Y. Jets lose at home to Oakland, falling to 9-7,
or
2) Denver goes to 9-7 with a loss at home to San Francisco,
and Kansas City rises to 9-7 with a home win against
Jacksonville.
Either 1) or 2) gets the Bengals in the playoffs, but both scenarios must occur for the Bengals to get the first Wild Card. If only one occurs, the Bengals will be the second Wild Card.
Here are the explanations behind the two scenarios:
1) A Jets loss means that among possible contenders for two Wild Card spots, only Denver could finish above 9-7. If Denver claims the first Wild Card at 10-6, the Bengals would win any tie for the second spot based on conference record (7-5). No team (Bengals playoff scenario, continued) among Kansas City, Jacksonville, Tennessee or the Jets could be above 6-6. If Denver loses and joins a pack at 9-7, the Bengals could claim the first Wild Card. The key for Cincinnati is that Kansas City would also have to win, because all ties must first be broken within a division, and Chiefs would eliminate Denver based on AFC West record. In the next step, Bengals would take the first Wild Card based on best conference record. If Kansas City is not involved, Denver still gets the first Wild Card at 9-7, based on conference record (8-4), and Cincinnati would take the second Wild Card based on second-best conference record.
2) This scenario presumes a Jets win, in which case Jets would take first Wild Card at 10-6. But as long as Kansas City wins to tie a losing Denver team at 9-7, the Broncos in any tie among 9-7 teams cannot take advantage of their best overall conference record (8-4) or their head-to-head win over the
Bengals. The Broncos are first eliminated in the same AFC West tiebreak described above in 1). Jacksonville would be eliminated because it lost to Kansas City and finished 8-8. The next tiebreaker would involve Cincinnati, Kansas City, and possibly Tennessee. If the Titans defeat visiting New England to make it a three-way tie, the Bengals take the second Wild Card based on best conference record. If the Titans lose and it’s just Cincinnati
vs. Kansas City, the Bengals take the second Wild Card based on head-to-head play.
If the Jets and Denver both win, they will both be 10-6 and the Bengals cannot qualify. Denver would claim the first Wild Card
with a better conference record, and the Jets would be the second Wild Card.
This is from a Bengals' standpoint, but I would love nothing better than to avoid Denver in the playoffs. I still think Denver will beat SF, but in case the 49ers pull off the upset, this info comes in handy.
Bob G
