AFC Playoff Picture: Bengals Enter Wild Card Ranks For Second Time In 2022

Cincinnati's 37-30 win over Pittsburgh had some ripple effects throughout the conference.

CINCINNATI — There is nothing like a cold, tough AFC North win.

That's exactly what the Bengals just notched in a 37-30 triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers to make them 6-4 on the season.

Joe Burrow posted his third career 350-plus yard, four-TD game and now has his franchise primed for a battle-tested playoff berth, with his top weapon possibly returning this week. The mood got an even bigger boost from teams teetering in the AFC playoff picture.

Cincinnati is now the seventh seed in the AFC and holds a playoff spot for the second time this season (seventh seed at 4-3). They are tied at 6-4 with the Patriots and Jets, holding a tiebreaker over New York (head-to-head win) and losing one against New England (conference win %, NE: 5-2, CIN: 3-3).

The Chargers' loss to the Chiefs was a blow to any dreams of the AFC's No. 1 seed (1% chance according to FiveThirtyEight), but it boosted Cincy into a playoff spot, with the Chargers dropping to ninth at 5-5.

The Bengals now have a 59% chance to make the playoffs.

The good thing for Cincinnati? They almost control their destiny for the No. 2 seed. The Bengals already beat Miami (No. 2) and play each team seeded above them one more time this season (TEN, NE, BUF, BAL, KC).

The Browns are the only non-playoff team remaining among Cincinnati's AFC opponents. Baltimore needs to lose at least one AFC game for the North to be in play, but all in all, it was a great weekend for the Bengals' playoff hopes.

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