[Bcatswin]

Ever since the Bengals beat the Rams and the Jets lost to the Eagles, there have been plenty of questions about where the Bengals stand in terms of tiebreakers and what needs to happen for them to get the sixth and final playoff spot. There is still a chance that the Chargers, Raiders or Titans could work their way into the mix too, but they need help. For the moment, we’ll focus on the Bengals and Jets since both are 8-6.

EASIEST SCENARIOS FOR BENGALS TO GET IN

Bengals win out and Jets lose to either the Giants or Dolphins.

If the Bengals lost to the Cardinals on Saturday and the Jets beat the Giants, the Bengals would need to beat the Ravens and have the Jets lose to the Dolphins. Both teams would be 9-7 but Bengals would win tiebreak based on better conference record.

NOW THE COMPLICATED ONE …

Say both teams win out and finish 10-6. They haven’t played each other this year so head-to-head doesn’t apply, they both would be 7-5 in the conference and 3-2 when facing common opponents. The fourth tiebreak is strength of victory in which the Bengals trail the Jets by 11 wins. The Jets eight wins (seven opponents) are 45-67 while the Bengals eight wins (seven opponents) are 34-78.

For those keeping track at home the Jets have beat the Bills twice, Jaguars, Chargers, Dolphins, Chiefs, Cowboys and Redskins. The Bengals beat the Browns twice, Jaguars, Colts, Titans, Seahawks, Bills and Rams.

It is mathematically possible for the Bengals to catch the Jets but they would need all the stars to line up for it to happen. One of the blog readers and Twitter followers (@stevenwolfjr) added it up on a spreadsheet where the Bengals opponents get 60 wins to the Jets 59, but the odds are long. How unlikely? Here’s one possible scenario …

Week 16: Bengals — beat Arizona (7-7), Colts beat Texans, Titans beat Jaguars, Ravens beat Browns, Seahawks beat Niners, Broncos beat Bills, Steelers beat Rams; Jets — beat Giants (7-7), Titans beat Jaguars, Lions beat Chargers, Broncos beat Bills, Patriots beat Dolphins, Raiders beat Chiefs, Eagles beat Cowboys, Redskins beat Vikings. Strength of Victory after Week 16 — Jets 53 wins, Bengals 44 wins.

Week 17: Bengals — beat Ravens (11-4), Colts beat Jaguars, Titans beat Texans, Browns beat Steelers, Cardinals beat Seahawks, Patriots beat Bills, Niners beat Rams; Jets — beat Dolphins (5-10), Colts beat Jaguars, Raiders beat Chargers, Patriots beat Bills, Broncos beat Chiefs, Giants beat Cowboys, Eagles beat Redskins. Strength of Victory after Week 17 — Bengals 60 wins, Jets 59 wins

If somehow the Bengals and Jets would tie on Strength of Victory, the next tiebreak would be Strength of Schedule which is close right now. The Jets is at .500 and the Bengals is at .477.

[Puppy]

milwkee mike on of the coolest dudes on the board

[BIGDAY]

I have a headache.

[Bcatswin]

I have a headache.

No fuking kidding BDAY

[milwaukee mike]

thx bcats

that conference loss with seconds left to houston is going to haunt cincy forever if they don't make it

moral of the story is go giants and/or go dolphins!!??

[Bcatswin]

Yes sir

[Gonad]

Cincy loses Saturday, book it... Well, at least against the 4.5 they do...

Bcats should know damn well by now what it means to be BENGALIZED...