Let’s be real for a second. If you’re a Bengals fan, your blood pressure has probably been through the roof since about October. It's been one of those seasons where you spend more time looking at playoff calculators than actually enjoying the Sunday afternoon snacks. Every week felt like a "must-win," and yet, here we are in January 2026, staring at the final math.
The big question everyone is typing into Google right now is simple: can the bengals still make the playoffs?
Honestly, it’s complicated. If you were looking for a simple "yes" or "no," the NFL rarely gives those out until the final whistle of Week 18. But the short answer is that the 2025-26 season has been a brutal reality check for Cincinnati. After finishing the regular season with a 6-11 record, the math has finally caught up with the magic.
The Reality of the AFC North Standings
There is no way to sugarcoat this. The AFC North was a meat grinder this year. While the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to navigate the chaos to a 10-7 finish and the Baltimore Ravens stayed in the hunt at 8-9, the Bengals found themselves stuck in the basement.
Wait. Not just the basement—the sub-basement.
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With a final record of 6-11, the Bengals have officially been eliminated from postseason contention. The AFC wild-card race was exceptionally fast this year. Look at the AFC West and AFC East. You have the Denver Broncos at 15-2 and the New England Patriots at 14-3. When the "middle of the pack" teams like the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans are sitting at 12-5, a six-win season doesn't even get you a seat at the table.
Here is the thing about the AFC this year: it was top-heavy. The gap between the elites and the rest of the conference was a canyon. By the time the Bengals hit their Week 18 loss against the Cleveland Browns (a frustrating 20-18 heartbreaker), the playoff door hadn't just closed; it was bolted shut and the locks were changed.
Why the "Math" Didn't Work Out
Earlier in December, there was a glimmer of hope. You might remember the "7-10 scenario" that was floating around. Because the AFC North was so weirdly mediocre for a stretch, there was a mathematical path where a 7-win team could actually win the division.
It sounded crazy. It was crazy.
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For the Bengals to pull that off, they needed Joe Burrow to basically play flawless football while every other team in the division collapsed. They did get a massive 45-21 win over the Dolphins and a 37-14 thumping of the Cardinals. For a minute there, it felt like 2021 all over again. But the 24-0 shutout loss to the Ravens in mid-December was the dagger. You can't make the playoffs if you're getting blanked at home in a divisional race.
can the bengals still make the playoffs: What Went Wrong?
If you're looking for someone to blame, you’ve got a lot of options. But usually, in the NFL, it’s not just one thing. It’s a domino effect.
- The Defense was a Sieve: Cincinnati's scoring defense was statistically one of the worst in the league. We're talking bottom-five territory, giving up over 31 points per game at one point. You can have Joe Burrow throwing for 400 yards, but if your defense is giving up 35, you're going to lose.
- The Run Game Disappeared: Ranking second-to-last in offensive rushing yards (about 87 per game) put way too much pressure on the passing attack. Teams knew exactly what was coming.
- Turnover Margin: You can't be -5 in turnover margin and expect to play in January. Turning the ball over 22 times is a recipe for a Top 10 draft pick, not a playoff berth.
Joe Burrow had his moments—like that Week 17 performance against Denver where he put up 412 yards—but the lack of a balanced attack made this team one-dimensional.
Looking Ahead to 2026-27
So, the 2025-26 season is over. What now?
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The Bengals are heading into the 2026 offseason with a lot of questions and a decent draft position. The 6-11 finish means they’ll have an opportunity to address that defensive line and maybe find some help for the backfield.
They also have a list of opponents for 2026 that looks... well, it looks tough. They’ll be facing the AFC South (Jaguars, Texans, Titans, Colts) and the NFC South (Saints, Bucs, Falcons, Panthers). Plus, the usual six-game gauntlet against the Steelers, Ravens, and Browns.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're wondering what to do now that the "can the bengals still make the playoffs" question has been answered with a "no," here is how to track the recovery:
- Watch the Draft Order: With a 6-11 record, the Bengals are picking in the top half of the first round. Keep an eye on defensive tackle prospects; they desperately need to stop the run.
- Salary Cap Management: Look at the contracts for guys like Tee Higgins and the defensive secondary. The front office has some hard decisions to make this Spring to ensure 2026 doesn't look like 2025.
- Coaching Staff Changes: Zac Taylor is entering his eighth season in 2026. After a 6-11 campaign, there will be massive pressure to see if any coordinator changes are made to fix that broken defense.
The playoffs aren't happening this year. It sucks, but that's the NFL. The focus now shifts entirely to the 2026 NFL Draft and the hope that a healthy Burrow and a revamped defense can put Cincinnati back where they belong.