Can Cincinnati clinch a playoff spot this weekend?

**The Excellector** · 12-21-2011, 09:26 AM

If the Bengals win and the Jets lose, would the Bengals have a playoff spot locked up this weekend?

**Ravenswintitle** · 12-21-2011, 09:32 AM

this is a pretty good playoff machine: http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

They can get the six spot only at this point. Here are the scenarios:

Spot #6 - Wildcard
Case 1
Bengals beat the Cardinals, and
Bengals beat the Ravens, and
Giants beat the Jets

Case 2
Bengals beat the Cardinals, and
Bengals beat the Ravens, and
Dolphins beat the Jets

Case 3
Bengals beat the Ravens, and
Bills beat the Broncos, and
Dolphins beat the Jets, and
Chiefs beat the Broncos

Case 4
Bengals beat the Ravens, and
Chiefs beat the Raiders, and
Lions beat the Chargers, and
Dolphins beat the Jets

Case 5
Bengals beat the Ravens, and
Chiefs beat the Raiders, and
Dolphins beat the Jets, and
Raiders beat the Chargers

Case 6
Bengals beat the Ravens, and
Lions beat the Chargers, and
Dolphins beat the Jets, and
Chargers beat the Raiders

**SteelFaninBMore** · 12-21-2011, 10:12 AM

Thanks for the detail. To put it simply, the Bengals can neither clinch nor be eliminated this weekend. The game against the Ravens will be treated as a win and in scenario for them, since the Jets are playing at the same time, and the Bengals won't be able to know their fate before taking the field.

**The Excellector** · 12-21-2011, 11:31 AM

From what it is showing me, the Bengals would take over the sixth seed with a win Saturday and a Jets loss, but will not clinch it.

It seems that, to make a long story short, the Bengals would only get the sixth seed if they finish with a better overall record than the Jets.

**sailorsam** · 12-21-2011, 11:38 AM

as I unnerstand it the Jets hold tiebreaker vs Bengals

**The Excellector** · 12-21-2011, 11:42 AM

That seems to be the case.

**SteelFaninBMore** · 12-21-2011, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

From what it is showing me, the Bengals would take over the sixth seed with a win Saturday and a Jets loss, but will not clinch it.

It seems that, to make a long story short, the Bengals would only get the sixth seed if they finish with a better overall record than the Jets.

The Jets hold a fairly large Strength of Victory lead over Cincy...so yeah, in most scenarios, a tie goes to New York.

The only way this doesn't happen is if:

Jets beat the Giants, but lose to Miami
Bengals lose to Cardinals, but beat Baltimore

In that case, they'd both be 9-7, but the Bengals would have a 7-5 conference record, vs the Jets 6-6, and Cincy would get the #6 seed.

**The Excellector** · 12-21-2011, 05:34 PM

So, it's not the Bengals who can clinch the sixth spot Saturday, but the Jets. If the Jets defeat the Giants and the Cardinals defeat the Bengals, the Jets will lock up the sixth seed. The only other team that would stand a legitimate chance of getting the sixth seed would be Oakland. If Oakland and New York finish with the same record, Oakland would get the sixth seed, because they defeated New York. Even if San Diego is brought into the equation for a three way tie, the Chargers have lost to the Raiders and the Jets.

**Ravenswintitle** · 12-21-2011, 06:36 PM

No, even if Cincy loses they are not eliminated. The 6th seed will go down to the last game.

If I'm incorrect on that please let me know

**Haloti92** · 12-21-2011, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

So, it's not the Bengals who can clinch the sixth spot Saturday, but the Jets. If the Jets defeat the Giants and the Cardinals defeat the Bengals, the Jets will lock up the sixth seed. The only other team that would stand a legitimate chance of getting the sixth seed would be Oakland. If Oakland and New York finish with the same record, Oakland would get the sixth seed, because they defeated New York. Even if San Diego is brought into the equation for a three way tie, the Chargers have lost to the Raiders and the Jets.

No one can clinch the #6 seed this weekend. Not the Jets or Cincy (both 8-6), and certainly not all the teams who are currently 7-7.

No matter what happens this weekend, we will need, at minimum, the results of week 17's early games to determine the #6 seed.

**The Excellector** · 12-21-2011, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Haloti92

No one can clinch the #6 seed this weekend. Not the Jets or Cincy (both 8-6), and certainly not all the teams who are currently 7-7.

No matter what happens this weekend, we will need, at minimum, the results of week 17's early games to determine the #6 seed.

I have it now. Thank you for your help. I put in the information to the Espn thing improperly.

**The Excellector** · 12-23-2011, 01:40 PM

Is there any way that Cincinnati can clinch a playoff spot, without defeating Baltimore?

**Haloti92** · 12-23-2011, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

Is there any way that Cincinnati can clinch a playoff spot, without defeating Baltimore?

Yeah, if the Jets lose out, and Cincy beats Arizona. And SD and Oakland each lose at least once (and they play each other in week 17).

In short, they can get in at 9-7 if they are the only team at 9-7 fighting for the spot , or they and Tennessee are the only teams at 9-7 fighting for the spot.

But they won't know they have clinched until after the game with Baltimore.