AFC Playoff Picture: Bengals keep playoff hopes alive with big win over Browns

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor shouts to the officials in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 16 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. The Bengals won 24-16.

The Cincinnati Bengals did exactly what they needed to do in Week 16, take care of the Cleveland Browns. Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes and Ja’Marr Chase and Chase Brown each had almost 100 yards in Cincinnati’s 24-6 win over Cleveland.

The win puts the Bengals at 7-8 and still alive in the AFC playoff picture. A huge game awaits on Saturday when the 9-6 Denver Broncos come to town. The Bengals need to win to stay alive.

They then would need the Broncos to lose to the Chiefs in Week 18, but the Chiefs may have the No. 1 seed wrapped up by then, meaning they could rest their starters in Week 18. They may even clinch the top seed before the Bengals and Broncos play on Saturday — the Chiefs clinch the top seed with a win Wednesday over the Steelers.

The Bengals also still need both the Colts and Dolphins to lose a game as both scored victories in Week 16 to keep their own playoff hopes alive. The Colts visit the 2-13 Giants while the Dolphins head to Cleveland to face the Browns. In Week 18, the Colts host the Jaguars and the Dolphins visit the Jets.

One step at a time for the Bengals. The next step is knocking off the Broncos on Saturday.