If the Bengals lose, and the Bengals get the wildcard....

[walzav29]

This is the best road for the Bengals. Here is the playoff seedings to root for.

Colts#1

Broncos#2

Steelers#3

Pats#4

Jags#5

Bengals#6

Pat's beat Jags, Bengals beat Steelers (they won't lose 3 times), Pats knock off the Colts, Plummer comes back to earth against the ball hawking Bengals. Bengals win. Bengals vs. Pats.

The Pats will have used every trick in the bag to upset the Colts and will be physically and emotionally spent. They will be an injured team. The Bengals win.

Super Bowl

Bengal's 27

Panthers 24

It's in the bag. This is only if the Bengals take the wildcard road. I'd prefer homefield through the playoffs, but they'll do what they gotta do!

[Stripes]

In a perfect world, sure. If we get the wildcard and have to face the Steelers, I can't imagine we'd win.

[indybengalsfan72]

I'd rather play the Patriots in the wild card game. I think we would have a great shot of winning in Foxboro, and shutting those fans up. Unlike Indianapolis, the Bengals have been successful against the Patriots in recent years, especially last year when they almost pulled it out in Foxboro.

[jamesbrooks21]

I don't think New England can win in Indy in the playoffs. I do agree with Jacksonville's remaining schedule that it is a good possibility they overtake us for the 5 seed. Here is how I think the playoff picture unfolds. It's sprinkled in homerism, but hey, it's possible.

Indianapolis (9-0)

@Cincinnati L

Pittsburgh W

Tennessee W

@Jacksonville L

San Diego W

@Seattle L

Arizona W

Indy finishes 13-3 AFC SOUTH CHAMPS

Denver (7-2)

NY Jets W

@Dallas L

@Kansas City W

Baltimore W

@Buffalo W

Oakland W

@San Diego L

Denver finishes 12-4 AFC WEST CHAMPS

Pittsburgh(7-2)

@Baltimore L (Maddox)

@Indianapolis L

Cincinnati L

Chicago W

@Minnesota W

@Cleveland W

Detroit W

Pittsburgh finishes 11-5 WILD CARD

New England(5-4)

New Orleans W

@Kansas City L

NY Jets W

@Buffalo W

Tampa Bay L

@NY Jets W

Miami W

New England finishes 10-6 AFC EAST CHAMPS

Jacksonville(6-3)

@Tennesee W

@Arizona L

@Cleveland W

Indianapolis W

San Fransico W

@ Houston W

Tennessee L

Jacksonville finishes 11-5 WILD CARD

Bengals(7-2)

Indianapolis W

Baltimore W

@Pittsburgh W

Cleveland W

@Detroit W

Buffalo W

@Kansas City L

Bengals finish 13-3 AFC NORTH CHAMPS

Round One

Bye: Indianapolis, Cincinnati

Jacksonville @ New England

Pittsburgh @ Denver

Round Two

New England @ Cincinnati

Denver @ Indianapolis

AFC Championship Game

Denver @ Cincinnati

Super Bowl XL

Cincinnati vs. Seattle

Bengals win 27-20

OK, OK. It's a longshot. But I simply refuse to think the Bengals are going to lose.

If the Bengals can get a win this weekend they are right back in the race for homefield advantage throughout. I do think Baltimore will knock off Pittsburgh with Maddox starting. That will put us in a win-win situation when Pittsburgh takes on Indy the following week.

[walzav29]

I think that if they Bengals can't beat the Colts with all of the advantages they have this week. They wouldn't stand a chance in Indy in the playoffs. I know the Pat's would knock them out. That's why I called it that way.

[jamesbrooks21]

I think that if they Bengals can't beat the Colts with all of the advantages they have this week. They wouldn't stand a chance in Indy in the playoffs. I know the Pat's would knock them out. That's why I called it that way.

That's why we need to win this game. We would be a game back with the tiebreaker edge. Not to mention Indy's tough schedule the rest of the way.

[turningpoint]

I'd rather play the Patriots in the wild card game. I think we would have a great shot of winning in Foxboro, and shutting those fans up. Unlike Indianapolis, the Bengals have been successful against the Patriots in recent years, especially last year when they almost pulled it out in Foxboro.

exactly....plus their 10+ season ending injuires to key players.

btw no way in hell the patriots beat the colts in indy.

colts will win that mismatch by about 20 points.

pats have no pass D, and the colts have one of the leagues best passing games...if not the best.

[walshfan]

I think we'll play the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the first round...

Jax gets NE....

It looks lilke the Bengals will have to beat

Pitt in Pitt

Denver in Denver

Indy in Indy

Seattle in superbowl....

[bengalboomer7]

I'm still a little nervous about making the playoffs. There is a big log jam of good teams in the AFC, and tems like Jax have a cupcake schedule. It's still not a safe bet that we make the playoffs. Not trying to be a downer, but it's a looong season

In the words of Jum More "Playoffs?!!!!"

[turningpoint]

i agree, i can seriously see us going 10-6 and missing out.

the chiefs could end up being a must win game on who gets the final wild card.

[walzav29]

I have to admit, that I am not positive that they are going either. Can't wait to clinch.

[jjakq27]

In a perfect world, sure. If we get the wildcard and have to face the Steelers, I can't imagine we'd win.

Anybody know Cowher's record in the playoffs?

i agree, i can seriously see us going 10-6 and missing out.

the chiefs could end up being a must win game on who gets the final wild card.

I am pulling for the Texans on Sunday night. We also need to be concerned about San Diego. They could get hot and move up into contention.

[ahanes]

I think 11-5 will be what it takes for the Bengals to get a wild card spot this year. Realistically, Cincinnati is competing with San Diego for the last wild card spot as Jacksonville should roll the rest of the way with their easyass schedule (plus they get the tiebreaker over the Bengals in head-to-head) and Kansas City should dropoff with the loss of Priest Holmes. A pretty good team is going to get left out of the playoffs and hopefully it's not the bengals. I feel that if they lose to both Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, that it'll be alot tougher road making the Kansas City game a must win. But maybe the Bengals will just win out and be looking at homefield advantage for the playoffs!!!

[duus]

Anybody know Cowher's record in the playoffs?

I know Cowher's record like the back of my hand ... I love jamming it down idiot Steeler fans throats!

8-9 All-time

0-4 away from home

1-4 in AFC Championship Games

It must also be mentioned that he has never beaten a team in the playoffs where the opponent has the same or better record (0-6). Hmmm.

[turningpoint]

larry johnson is every bit as good as preist holmes.

larry is a monster.

[kingwilly]

Here was my take from Sept. 28th...

It will take 11 or 12 but we need to beat Indy, JAX, and at a minimum split with Pit & Bal. KC is the last piece of the puzzle.

I think it will come down to the KC game at Arrowhead. We win, we clinch home field with 11 or 12 wins.

The only teams in the AFC that look unstoppable are us and Indy. NE and Pit look thoroughly beatable. KC took it on the chin in Denver and SD is already in a hole. This season has quite a bit of parity for sure.

AFC East and West will be won with 10-6 (NE and Denver)

AFC South will be won with 12-4 (Indy)

AFC North will be won with 12-4 (Cincy of course) with home field adv.

KC and Pit are Wildcards.

Wildcard will be KC having to travel to Denver, and losing

Denver then comes to us. We win.

Other Wildcard is Pit at NE. NE wins.

NE goes to Indy, Indy get of the schnide and wins.

Indy visits us, and gets THUMPED. Cincy to Detroit Rock City for SB XL vs.......Atlanta. Cincy wins 31-28 on late TD to CJ.

[jjakq27]

Anybody know Cowher's record in the playoffs?

I know Cowher's record like the back of my hand ... I love jamming it down idiot Steeler fans throats!

8-9 All-time

0-4 away from home

1-4 in AFC Championship Games

It must also be mentioned that he has never beaten a team in the playoffs where the opponent has the same or better record (0-6). Hmmm.

My point exactly. Kinda sounds like the Braves and Bobby Cox in baseball.