If you’re a Bengals fan reading this in mid-January, you’re probably feeling that familiar, nagging sting. It’s Saturday, the Divisional Round is kicking off, and the Queen City is quiet. Again. For the third year in a row, Cincinnati is on the outside looking in while teams like the Texans and Bills fight for a spot in the AFC Championship.
Honestly, it’s exhausting.
The 2025-2026 season was a wild ride that ended in a thud. A 6-11 record doesn’t just happen by accident. It takes a specific blend of bad luck, defensive lapses, and missed opportunities. While Joe Burrow stayed upright for most of the year, the "magic" just wasn't there when it mattered most. The Week 15 shutout loss to the Ravens—a 24-0 embarrassment at Paycor Stadium—was the final nail in the coffin that officially eliminated them.
So, what do the Bengals need to make playoffs in 2026? It isn’t just about "getting healthy" anymore. That’s a lazy excuse. If this team wants to stop watching the postseason from the couch, the front office and the coaching staff have to address some fundamental, structural flaws that have haunted them since that Super Bowl run.
Fixing the "Glass House" Defense
You can’t win in the AFC North if you’re giving up nearly 500 points in a season.
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In 2025, the Bengals' defense was essentially a sieve. They allowed 492 points. That’s an average of almost 29 points per game. You could have 1980s Dan Marino under center and you’d still struggle to finish above .500 with those numbers.
Joseph Ossai led the team with five sacks. Let that sink in. Five. In a league where the elite edge rushers are hitting double digits by November, Cincinnati’s pass rush was practically non-existent. Trey Hendrickson’s health is always a talking point, but the lack of interior pressure and a consistent secondary meant quarterbacks had all day to carve up the field.
To make the playoffs in 2026, the defensive priority has to be:
- A legitimate interior disruptor. They need someone next to Sheldon Rankins (or a replacement) who actually demands a double-team.
- Secondary Stability. The breakout of DJ Turner II and Dax Hill provides hope, but the "bend-but-also-frequently-break" style of the last two seasons has to go.
- The Myles Murphy Leap. The former first-rounder needs to become the star he was drafted to be. Period.
The Burrow-to-Chase Connection Isn't Enough
Look, Ja’Marr Chase is a god-tier talent. 132 yards against the Ravens in a loss? 1,147 yards on the season? He’s doing his part. But the 2025 season proved that the "hero ball" offense has a ceiling.
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Tee Higgins missed the end of the season with injuries, and without him, the offense felt claustrophobic. Andrei Iosivas shows flashes, but he isn't a consistent WR2 yet. When the Bengals make the playoffs, it’s usually because they have three different ways to beat you on any given play. Right now, if you bracket Chase and pressure Burrow, the engine stalls.
The run game was actually a bright spot with Chase Brown tallying 780 yards, but the team’s identity is still too lopsided. They need a veteran presence in the receiving room to take the pressure off the kids.
Winning the "Common Games"
The 2025 schedule was brutal, but the Bengals killed themselves in the games they should have won. Losses to the Jets (39-38) and the Bears (47-42) are the reason this team is picking 10th in the draft instead of playing today.
Basically, the Bengals need to stop playing down to their competition. They went 3-3 in the division, which isn't terrible, but when you lose to the 5-win Browns in Week 18, you don't deserve a playoff spot. Consistency is a boring answer, but for Zac Taylor’s squad, it’s the only one that matters.
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The 2026 Road Ahead: A Quick Look
The 2026 opponents are already set. It's not going to be a walk in the park.
- Home: Ravens, Steelers, Browns, Chiefs, Jaguars, Titans, Buccaneers, Saints, Dolphins.
- Away: Ravens, Steelers, Browns, Falcons, Panthers, Texans, Colts, Commanders.
Facing Patrick Mahomes (who missed the end of '25 with an ACL) and a Houston Texans team that just blew out the Steelers in the Wild Card round means the "strength of schedule" will be high.
Actionable Steps for the Offseason
What do the Bengals need to make playoffs next year? It starts in March, not September.
- Aggressive Extensions: Lock down DJ Turner II and Dax Hill early. Don't let these negotiations drag into training camp. Stability breeds success.
- The Trenches: Use that 10th overall pick on the best defensive lineman available. No more "project" players; they need a Day 1 starter who can hit the quarterback.
- Kicking Game & Special Teams: Brad Robbins being on IR hurt, but the overall special teams unit felt flat. In a division decided by field goals, every yard matters.
- Coaching Self-Reflection: Lou Anarumo is a genius when his scheme works, but the 2025 stats suggest a need for a philosophy shift. They need to be more aggressive on third downs.
The window isn't closed, but it's definitely starting to creak. Joe Burrow is in his prime. Ja’Marr Chase is in his prime. If the front office doesn't fix the defense and the depth issues this spring, 2026 will just be another year of watching the Bills and Ravens play in January.
For now, the best thing fans can do is watch the draft board. The path back to the postseason starts with who the Bengals call with that 10th pick.