Do the Bengals Have Anything to Play For?

The Bengals have nothing to play for and no matter what they say this week, will rest their starters almost the whole game.

 

Here's a short rooting guide:

Current standings between CIN and NE:
CIN is behind NE by 5 wins in the strength of victory category. They can actually get 8 more wins from the teams that they've beaten, so CIN overcoming NE on strength of victory is actually possible. You want things to break so that CIN has nothing to play for Sunday night.

Monday night -
MIN to beat CHI (this actually matters in the strength of victory tie-breaker between NE and CIN since CIN beat CHI)

Week 17:
NE beats HOU (this plus one of results below will cause NE to be the third seed)

and

MIA beats PIT or
JAX beats CLE or

some combination of the below happen (2 or more of the ones below are needed)
BUF beats IND
TEN beats SEA
CAR beats NO
OAK beats BAL
DEN beats KC
ARZ beats GB

These are the games that matter in the CIN-NE strength-of-victory standings. Odd, but we actually want our division rivals to win. Good thing is we'll know exactly where everyone stands by the time we play.

 

if the Pats lose to Huston the Bengals can play for the 3 seed - but it also means that it would probably allow the Steelers into the playoffs. I can't see the Bengals wanting to play the Ravens or the Steelers in the playoffs. I bet they think their best option is facing the Jets at home in the first round.

I can see the starters playing one quarter like the final pre season game.

 

I forgot to mention, if all of those things above go Cincy's way and NE loses, they might get the #3 seed even if they lose! Maybe this is a better rooting guide:

HOU beats NE and
PIT beats MIA and
CLE beats JAX and

plus 5 points from the following:

IND beats BUF (counts for 2)
CHI beats MIN (counts for 1 - this is tonight's game)
SEA beats TEN (counts for 1)
NO beats CAR (counts for 1)
BAL beats OAK (counts for 1)
KC beats DEN (counts for 1)
GB beats ARZ (counts for 1)


Of course, this means that we face NE in the playoffs, but is a more palatable rooting guide (we want all our division rivals to lose).

 

I think all Jet fans want NE in the first round.

I know I do.

 

If we beat Cincy we play them again the following week.

They're going to rest their started most likely and not show us their full hand.

 

considering new england hasn't lost at home since forever, i'd much rather play cinci round 1.

 

Give me cincy -- and then let NE lose in the first round...so after we beat cinci again we play SD (who is good) but we can avoid Manning as long as possible.

I guess i should know better as a jet fan though and watch JT Osullivan throw for 400 yards.

 

I think both the Patriots and the Bengals are going to rest starters this week. Neither team has a reason to win. At this point there's no reason to want the three seed instead of the four when that might mean playing in San Diego for the divisional game instead of in Indy ( I think the Colts are a far easier match up despite their record). On top of that, nobody really wants to see the Steelers in the playoffs. Just beat Cinci's backups and you guys are in.

 

I think both teams would rather play SD than Indy.