Reposting the ESPN Playoff Machine - The Steelers game is HUGE

[BnglFn Forever]

I'm figuring we beat Cowboys, and Eagles, and Steelers beat Chargers and Cowboys leading up to our second meeting. This is HUGE, it may come down to beating Steelers and we are in playoffs. WOW

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

[Shady]

Wouldn't it be great to go to Pittsburgh and knock them out of the playoffs?

[Allen]

It will come down to us beating the Steelers in Pit. That would be my favorite way to make the playoffs anyway. We can do it. It will be Dalton's first big AFC north victory. Cant wait!!! WHO DEY!!!!

[12thmanontheBengals]

Let's not focus on that until we get through Dallas and Philly. Steelers have their games to play, and we have ours. We could easily be at 9-5 going into a game against the 7-7 steelers... or our roles could be flipped.

One game at a time, gentlemen. And let's hope Washington, Denver, and the Giants get hot. ;-)

[Slappy from New Haven]

No it comes down to beating the Cowboys next Sunday

[BnglFn Forever]

Originally Posted by Shady

Wouldn't it be great to go to Pittsburgh and knock them out of the playoffs?

I was thinking the exact same thing. Would be better than Christmas Morning

[Second Down]

Originally Posted by BnglFn Forever

I'm figuring we beat Cowboys, and Eagles, and Steelers beat Chargers and Cowboys leading up to our second meeting. This is HUGE, it may come down to beating Steelers and we are in playoffs. WOW

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

If we win out and the Steelers win out and we beat them then lose to the Ravens the week after it would all come down to the Browns vs. Steelers game... I wouldn't say a win against Pitt means we get in...

[Bengals Mike]

Originally Posted by NC Bengal Mike

No it comes down to beating the Cowboys next Sunday

No it doesnt because it settles nothing whether its won or lost, they have to beat the Cowboys to keep up but it's not a game that will clinch a spot or knock anyone out if they lose

[Joelist]

Obviously at some point if we want the playoffs we need the Steelers to lose at least once or the Colts to lose 2 games. That's assuming we keep on winning.

[Slappy from New Haven]

Originally Posted by Bengals Mike

No it doesnt because it settles nothing whether its won or lost, they have to beat the Cowboys to keep up but it's not a game that will clinch a spot or knock anyone out if they lose

My point is this why worry about the Pitt game if we lose next week. If we do not win the game sitting right in front of us what good does it do be be a game back when we face the Steelers.

Bengals have to win out in my mind

[Bengals Mike]

Originally Posted by NC Bengal Mike

My point is this why worry about the Pitt game if we lose next week. If we do not win the game sitting right in front of us what good does it do be be a game back when we face the Steelers.

Bengals have to win out in my mind

I just played the scenario of the Bengals losing to the Cowboys and beating the Eagles and Steelers and the Steelers beating the Chargers and Cowboys and losing to the Bengals and in that scenario the Bengals win the tie break over the Steelers based on best win percentage in conference games

so if there was ever such thing as the Bengals being able to afford to lose a game, next week is with it being an nfc game which wont affect conference record even by beating the Steelers

[jfkbengals]

Originally Posted by NC Bengal Mike

My point is this why worry about the Pitt game if we lose next week. If we do not win the game sitting right in front of us what good does it do be be a game back when we face the Steelers.

Bengals have to win out in my mind

Ditto. This includes the Ravens game as well, as the Steelers victory today would give them the leg up in division record.

[Bengals Mike]

Originally Posted by jfkbengals

Ditto. This includes the Ravens game as well, as the Steelers victory today would give them the leg up in division record.

the Steelers game is pretty much all or nothing for the playoffs at this point unless the Ravens collapse which looks possible seeing as they made Batch look like a Top 10 QB today and they still have to play RG3 and the Mannings

I mean with the Steelers game is anyone really going to be satisfied if they won the next 2 games regardless and lost that one and still somehow made the playoffs?

[jfkbengals]

Just checked it out on the playoff machine, we need to win out, otherwise Pittsburgh would own the tiebreaker.

[Rleis]

Originally Posted by jfkbengals

Just checked it out on the playoff machine, we need to win out, otherwise Pittsburgh would own the tiebreaker.

That's assuming there is a tie. We don't have to win out if other teams drop some. Winning out would sure help though

[TheCincinnatiKid]

Actually looking at it; I dont think it will happen, but if the Ravens somehow dropped the game in Washington next week, they have Denver and the Giants straight after.. two more they could potentially lose. Best case, we could be tied with them going into week 17, if the Ravens lose those three, we could even afford to lose in Pittsburgh.

I doubt they lose next week, but Baltimore aren't necessarily a lock for the playoffs yet, let alone the division. They have a tough run-in.

Likely though, I think we have to win out.

[TheCincinnatiKid]

Originally Posted by Second Down

If we win out and the Steelers win out and we beat them then lose to the Ravens the week after it would all come down to the Browns vs. Steelers game... I wouldn't say a win against Pitt means we get in...

True unfortunately. We need the Steelers to lose to us AND another game if we lose to the Ravens. Basically we're screwed if we're tied on wins.

[Slappy from New Haven]

Originally Posted by Bengals Mike

I just played the scenario of the Bengals losing to the Cowboys and beating the Eagles and Steelers and the Steelers beating the Chargers and Cowboys and losing to the Bengals and in that scenario the Bengals win the tie break over the Steelers based on best win percentage in conference games

so if there was ever such thing as the Bengals being able to afford to lose a game, next week is with it being an nfc game which wont affect conference record even by beating the Steelers

but it would be a LOSS, run this scenario, we lose next week and run the table, Pitt only loses to us. Who gets in.

[Fan_in_Kettering]

The Bengals just need to keep winning by focusing on one week at a time. Don't forget the Colts still have to play the Texans twice.

[djam]

IMO we have to win out, but if we dont, we can only lose one game, and it cannot be against the Stealers.

[thompson19osu]

Steelers will lose 2 more and we might lose 1. Bengals are in.

[Fan_in_Kettering]

Originally Posted by djam

IMO we have to win out, but if we dont, we can only lose one game, and it cannot be against the Stealers.

Correct. Losing to the Ravens in Week Seventeen might be the only "acceptable" loss but I honestly think the Bengals have what it takes to run the tables and finish 11-5.

[Go Cards]

the Bengals just need to take care of their own business down the stretch run

[Bengals Mike]

Originally Posted by NC Bengal Mike

but it would be a LOSS, run this scenario, we lose next week and run the table, Pitt only loses to us. Who gets in.

I did

Originally Posted by Bengals Mike

I just played the scenario of the Bengals losing to the Cowboys and beating the Eagles and Steelers and the Steelers beating the Chargers and Cowboys and losing to the Bengals and in that scenario the Bengals win the tie break over the Steelers based on best win percentage in conference games

[thompson19osu]

Some may say I'm crazy but I honestly think this division is still up for grabs. Sure it would most likely require the Bengals winning out but I honestly can see the Ravens losing 3 of the last 4 games.