The Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a 19-17 victory over the struggling Steelers on Saturday. To secure a postseason spot, they now need both the Broncos and Dolphins to lose their regular-season finales on Sunday.
With standout players like Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson, combined with a five-game winning streak, there’s growing talk about how dangerous the Bengals could be in the playoffs. Head coach Zac Taylor echoed that sentiment after the game.
“They’re capable of anything,” Taylor said, per the team’s website. “They don’t want us in this tournament, I promise you.”
Despite the optimism, the Bengals’ playoff fate rests on other teams’ results due to their shaky start to the season. At 4-8 earlier this year, they left themselves little margin for error. While some may view their absence as a missed opportunity for the league, the Bengals ultimately have only themselves to blame if they fall short.
Even if they do make it, it’s uncertain whether the Bills—who would host the Bengals in the first round—would be overly concerned about facing this team to kick off their postseason.
Regardless, the Bengals have proven they can be a formidable opponent when it counts, leaving teams wary of what they might bring if given the chance.