Imagine the scenarios

[duus]

* Bengals win Sunday, take the division, and get #3 seed. Steelers either don't make the playoffs, or, more likely, get #6 seed. They would go to PBS for the first game of the playoffs. I would love that. Not concerned about that situation given that we would have won the 12/4 game.

* Bengals lose Sunday, and the Steelers get the division. Bengals end up with the #5 (likely) or #6 seed (if they lose a 5th game of the year). Why #5? Because I expect them to win-out, and the Jags will lose to Indy and probably 1 other game because of the QB thing. #5 seed, and the Bengals go to NE. #6 seed, and they go to Pittsburgh. I absolutely love the odds of winning in NE. Pittsburgh wouldn't frighten me for the 3rd time, but I'd rather not go through that 'monkey' thing in the playoffs.

So ... although I expect, hope, and strongly desire the Bengals to win this Sunday, even with the loss, as long as they win the remaining 4 games, they go 12-4 and should get the #5 seed. I see this upcoming game as the difference between #3 (home game) and #5 (away in NE). Honestly, neither scenario bothers me in terms of winnable games.

In the end, I think you will see the following seeds:

(If Bengals win Sunday) --> Indy #1; Denver #2; Bengals #3; NE #4; Jacksonville #5; Pittsburgh #6.

(If Bengals lose Sunday) --> Indy #1; Denver #2; Pittsburgh #3; NE #4; Bengals #5; Jacksonville #6.

With the 'Bengals win' scenario, they would play in Denver in the second round, and the Steelers will be singing their 'next year' song once again.

With the 'Bengals lose' scenario, they would play play in Indy in the second round, and the Steelers go to Denver. Not sure I like the AFC North chances either way, but both could win those games. If that happens, could you imagine the AFC Championship in Pittsburgh, with the Bengals taking their turn at winning in Pittsburgh in mid January? Sweet. I could see the Pittsburgh fans now ... "how is it we beat them twice in the regular season, but lose in the playoffs with so much on the line?" Answer ... the coach. Who has the monkey now?

[kingwilly]

Hmmm...I think if Pitt loses to us they will be out. They have Chi next week and will lose to them, thier D will take them apart. If we lose, I think we still win the division since I think we will have a better overall record.

I think we'll see SD take the 5 or 6 spot, with Jags the other wildcard, should PIT lose to us.

I see it IND, DEN, CIN, NE, JAX and SD if we win.

If we lose, then: IND, DEN, NE, CIN, JAX, PIT

[NYBengalfan]

* Bengals win Sunday, take the division, and get #3 seed.

I think that we can still get the #2 seed.

[Stripes]

* Bengals win Sunday, take the division, and get #3 seed.

I think that we can still get the #2 seed.

I agree, and I even expect it. If we win this game, I bet we win out, and I think 13-3 will beat Denver's record.

[derekshank]

Denver has one of the most impressive records given the level of competition they have beaten... but they could still lose a couple.

This week @KC is no gimme... but if they win, their only other tough game is @SD. I expect them to beat KC, but lose to SD.... which would make them 13-3.

Anyone know the tie breaker if we both finish 13-3?

[kingwilly]

just saw the stat that Denver's december record at A-head is 1-11.

The tie-breaker is div. record, I believe...

I agree that Denver could put up some stinkers over the next 5 weeks...remember Plummer is their QB and Chump Bailey is gimpy...

[Stripes]

The tie-breaker is div. record, I believe...

You might be right, though I think when it comes to playoff seeding between non-division rivals, it is based on conference record first.

[buck3y3d]

The tie-breaker is div. record, I believe...

You might be right, though I think when it comes to playoff seeding between non-division rivals, it is based on conference record first.

Its head v head, conference record, common opponents, and then strength of schedule or some other stuff.

Get this, one of tiebreakers towards the bottom of the list, is coin flip.

A season coming down to heads versus tails for the playoffs, man that would be a nightmare.

[derekshank]

Its head v head, conference record, common opponents, and then strength of schedule or some other stuff.

If that is true then:

We don't play them, so it goes to the 2nd tie breaker... the conference record... where they are 6-1 to our 5-3.

We need to win out, and have them lose two games to get the bye. Their only challenges are @KC and @SD, both of which are losable... but they have pretty much every advantage over us at this point.

If they win @KC, we have virtually no chance of getting the bye.

[duus]

Its head v head, conference record, common opponents, and then strength of schedule or some other stuff.

If that is true then:

We don't play them, so it goes to the 2nd tie breaker... the conference record... where they are 6-1 to our 5-3.

We need to win out, and have them lose two games to get the bye. Their only challenges are @KC and @SD, both of which are losable... but they have pretty much every advantage over us at this point.

If they win @KC, we have virtually no chance of getting the bye.

Exactly. That's why I find it hard to imagine the byes not going to Indy and Denver. It would take something special for anyone to leap above them. So, if we assume that, then the fight is for the #3 and #4 seeds, which go to the division winners. Although NE has an easy schedule the remaining way, they still already have 5 losses and it would be very unlikely for them not to get the #4 seed (unless the Steelers win this week, but lose again and the Pats win out ... because the Pats beat the Steelers this year). In any case, it just doesn't matter for the Bengals. The fight for them is really the #3 seed (if they win tomorrow) or the #5 seed (should they lose). That's probably the way it will be. Obviously, #3 would be much nicer ... home game. But #5 would be o.k. too ... away game against NE. I think I'll take either, and expect to head to either Denver (if we were the #3 seed) or Indy (if we were the #5 seed). Can you see why winning the division is important? It's the difference of playing at Indy or at Denver in round 2. Again, tomorrow makes a great deal of difference. Man, I hope they don't let me down. Time to kill some mean old monkeys that have been weighing on the back.

[BengalszoneBilly]

At this point the only scenario I'm concerned about is the Bengals making the playoffs PERIOD. What happens from there appears to be pretty tough any way you hash it out. The playoff chances at this point for Cincy do look good I admit, but nothing has been clinched yet, and I won't be comfortable until they do.

The Bengals should just concentrate on the Steelers this week:

Then the Brown's, Lion's, Bills, and Chiefs one game at a time, in that order. The playoff will take care of themselves from there.

[bengalindian]

This is off topic, but does anyone know if Madieu will be back for the playoffs, and if it is even possible to bring him off of IR for the postseason?

[Stripes]

This is off topic, but does anyone know if Madieu will be back for the playoffs, and if it is even possible to bring him off of IR for the postseason?

Nope, he's gone.

[walshfan]

Imagine this scenario...

Bengals against the Seahawks in the Superbowl...

"Shoot for the stars if you want to reach the sky"...

[jungleman]

believe it or not but the seahawks have waited longer to see a playoff win than bengal fans lol

[BengalszoneBilly]

believe it or not but the seahawks have waited longer to see a playoff win than bengal fans lol

It was the Bengals who bumped them out in their last attempt in '88 I believe. Wasn't Chuck Knox their head coach then?

[derekshank]

The Seahawks lost a playoff game just a couple years ago in overtime... I think to the Packers. So yes... they've waited longer for the win... but at least they've been there.