30 minutes ago, Breds82 said:

They just have to win two games against Cleveland and Baltimore and hope the others fall flat in their other division games. IF the BEngals win the division they are in regardless of record. Am I wrong?

Correct the best overall record within the division. Not just division games.

7 hours ago, Breds82 said:

They just have to win two games against Cleveland and Baltimore and hope the others fall flat in their other division games. IF the BEngals win the division they are in regardless of record. Am I wrong?

The Bengals most likely have to win all their games, not just the Cleveland and Baltimore games. To win the division it still goes off overall record first. The division record is only in effect, if there is a tie with the overall record. In that case the division record is the tie breaker. 
 

So to answer your question yes if you win your division you are in the playoffs and get a home playoff game too. However, you don’t win your division by simply having the best in division record. Your overall record is what matters first in that regard.

Thanks. I have had my wires crossed on this for I don't know how long. I thought Divisions were like districts if high school football. Thanks for clearing that up.

If you enjoy wasting time by giving yourself false hopes as much as I do, ESPNs playoff machine is a lot of fun. Even with a loss to Buffalo, we still still have a chance!

https://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

 

12 minutes ago, Tones said:

If you enjoy wasting time by giving yourself false hopes as much as I do, ESPNs playoff machine is a lot of fun. Even with a loss to Buffalo, we still still have a chance!

https://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

 

I'm all in for this scenario playing out for the NFL playoffs. 
 

 

IF the Bengals lose this weekend, these are the scenarios that the Bengals could still win the division. The games highlighted in ORANGE can be interchanged as long as the records stay the same.

	RAVENS STEELERS SPLIT (Steelers must lose 2; Ravens must lose 1)
		BENGALS		4-8	STEELERS		6-6	RAVENS		6-6
	14	@Buffalo	L	4-9	@Baltimore	L	6-7	vsPittsburgh	W	7-6
	15	vsBaltimore	W	5-9	vsMiami	W	7-7	@Cincinnati	L	7-7
	16	@Miami	W	6-9	@Detroit	L	7-8	vsNew England	W	8-7
	17	vsArizona	W	7-9	@Cleveland	L	7-9	@Green Bay	L	8-8
	18	vsCleveland	W	8-9	vsBaltimore	W	8-9	@Pittsburgh	L	8-9
	RAVENS SWEEP (Steelers must lose 1; Ravens must lose both)
		BENGALS		4-8	STEELERS		6-6	RAVENS		6-6
	14	@Buffalo	L	4-9	@Baltimore	L	6-7	vsPittsburgh	W	7-6
	15	vsBaltimore	W	5-9	vsMiami	W	7-7	@Cincinnati	L	7-7
	16	@Miami	W	6-9	@Detroit	L	7-8	vsNew England	L	7-8
	17	vsArizona	W	7-9	@Cleveland	W	8-8	@Green Bay	L	7-9
	18	vsCleveland	W	8-9	vsBaltimore	L	8-9	@Pittsburgh	W	8-9

On 12/4/2025 at 12:54 PM, Tones said:

IF the Bengals lose this weekend, these are the scenarios that the Bengals could still win the division. The games highlighted in ORANGE can be interchanged as long as the records stay the same.

	RAVENS STEELERS SPLIT (Steelers must lose 2; Ravens must lose 1)
		BENGALS		4-8	STEELERS		6-6	RAVENS		6-6
	14	@Buffalo	L	4-9	@Baltimore	L	6-7	vsPittsburgh	W	7-6
	15	vsBaltimore	W	5-9	vsMiami	W	7-7	@Cincinnati	L	7-7
	16	@Miami	W	6-9	@Detroit	L	7-8	vsNew England	W	8-7
	17	vsArizona	W	7-9	@Cleveland	L	7-9	@Green Bay	L	8-8
	18	vsCleveland	W	8-9	vsBaltimore	W	8-9	@Pittsburgh	L	8-9
	RAVENS SWEEP (Steelers must lose 1; Ravens must lose both)
		BENGALS		4-8	STEELERS		6-6	RAVENS		6-6
	14	@Buffalo	L	4-9	@Baltimore	L	6-7	vsPittsburgh	W	7-6
	15	vsBaltimore	W	5-9	vsMiami	W	7-7	@Cincinnati	L	7-7
	16	@Miami	W	6-9	@Detroit	L	7-8	vsNew England	L	7-8
	17	vsArizona	W	7-9	@Cleveland	W	8-8	@Green Bay	L	7-9
	18	vsCleveland	W	8-9	vsBaltimore	L	8-9	@Pittsburgh	W	8-9

The thing I see there - It would not surprise me to see the Steelers and Ravens lose every game they have left and the Bengals could win out. Of course that can't happen because of the Steelers Ravens facing each other in one of those games. But the Bengals could still win the division outright if they win all their games. The Steelers and Ravens could finish 7-10 and the Bengals 8-9. Plus if the Bengals win out they own the tiebreaker.

45 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

The Steelers and Ravens could finish 7-10 and the Bengals 8-9. Plus if the Bengals win out they own the tiebreaker.

If I am looking at the standings correctly. If Bengals win out (that's a big if with our D) they would finish at 8-9 and 5-1 in the division. The Ravens could go 2-2 in their last 4 and finish at 8-9 and the Steelers would have to go 1-3 and all 3 teams finish at 8-9 the Bengals would win the division and host a first round playoff game probably against the Bills again.

1 minute ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

If I am looking at the standings correctly. If Bengals win out (that's a big if with our D) they would finish at 8-9 and 5-1 in the division. The Ravens could go 2-2 in their last 4 and finish at 8-9 and the Steelers would have to go 1-3 and all 3 teams finish at 8-9 the Bengals would win the division and host a first round playoff game probably against the Bills again.

Season is over for the Bengals. I'm still cracking that they suspended Burton today.

6 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

If I am looking at the standings correctly. If Bengals win out (that's a big if with our D) they would finish at 8-9 and 5-1 in the division. The Ravens could go 2-2 in their last 4 and finish at 8-9 and the Steelers would have to go 1-3 and all 3 teams finish at 8-9 the Bengals would win the division and host a first round playoff game probably against the Bills again.

There are several possible outcomes that the Bengals win the division.

18 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

There are several possible outcomes that the Bengals win the division.

 

7 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

If I am looking at the standings correctly. If Bengals win out (that's a big if with our D) they would finish at 8-9 and 5-1 in the division. The Ravens could go 2-2 in their last 4 and finish at 8-9 and the Steelers would have to go 1-3 and all 3 teams finish at 8-9 the Bengals would win the division and host a first round playoff game probably against the Bills again.

I truly believe if the Bengals can do their part and win out. That they will be division champs, as I think the Steelers will lose 3 of 4 and Tomlin has his first losing season. I also think the Ravens would lose another one besides also losing to the Bengals. The hard part is the Bengals doing their part and winning out. 

5 hours ago, futurecoach said:

The hard part is the Bengals doing their part and winning out. 

The way things go for us Bengals fans the scenario will probably play out perfectly and all we have to do is defeat the Browns in the last game of the season to win the division and we lose. lol

2 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

The way things go for us Bengals fans the scenario will probably play out perfectly and all we have to do is defeat the Browns in the last game of the season to win the division and we lose. lol

Yeah probably true lol. 

3 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

The way things go for us Bengals fans the scenario will probably play out perfectly and all we have to do is defeat the Browns in the last game of the season to win the division and we lose. lol

You guys are not winning the division! 

7 minutes ago, MaddenCurse44 said:

You guys are not winning the division!