COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Wash, rinse, repeat. The Bengals remain in the playoff hunt and can take a big step with a win over the Broncos. The Browns can play spoilers once again, by either eliminating the Dolphins, or by hurting the Bengals’ chances with a loss.
Here is a look into Week 17’s games.
Denver Broncos (9-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
Saturday, Dec. 28 at Paycor Stadium, 4:30 p.m.
The Cincinnati Bengals got a rare win at home (2-5 in The Jungle) last week with a clunky 24-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns and now set their sights on the Denver Broncos, one of three teams in front of the Bengals in the race for the final AFC playoff spot.
Cincinnati, now with an 11% chance to make the postseason, can double its percentage with a win Saturday and will need help along the way.
- Win out: Cincinnati hosts Denver this weekend, then travels to Pittsburgh. Gotta have em’.
- AND Denver loses out: After Week 17, Denver hosts Kansas City in the season finale. All things being equal, this certainly has potential to happen, and assuming a win Saturday, the Bengals would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. But it’s possible the Chiefs, who have clinched a first-round bye, rest their starters against the Broncos in Week 18.
- AND Miami and Indianapolis lose at least one more game: The Colts (7-8) have the easiest schedule amongst all teams in the Bengals’ way. Indianapolis plays the Giants in New York on Sunday, then hosts the Jaguars in Week 18. Jacksonville (3-12) has won five of their last six meetings and knocked the Colts out of the playoffs in the 2022 season finale. Miami (7-8) travels to Cleveland and then New York to face the Jets. Both teams would finish ahead of Cincinnati in a tie-breaker scenario due to better conference records.
Despite its loss Sunday to the Chargers, Denver is averaging 33.2 points over its last five. Keeping the score down has not been Cincinnati’s strong suit, to put it mildly. Neither has been defeating opponents with winning records – the Bengals are 0-7 in that department.
Line: Bengals 3. O/U: 49.5
Prediction: Don’t be fooled by Sunday’s result, the Browns gift-wrapped a Bengals victory just in time for the holidays. The Broncos aren’t as generous. Denver plays scrooge, 30-27.
Miami Dolphins (7-8) at Cleveland Browns (3-12)
Sunday, Dec. 29 at Huntington Bank Field, 4:05 p.m.
Save for Jerome Ford’s 131 total yards and a score, the Browns were stuck in neutral much of Sunday’s game with the inexperienced and overwhelmed Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center. Scoring just six points, Cleveland routinely shot themselves in the foot with turnovers (three), or lack of drive-sustaining plays (three-for-12 on third down).
The Bengals recorded five sacks, but DTR was under duress much of the second half. He was sacked three times over the final two drives, scrambled on a dozen other drop-backs and had an intentional grounding penalty called when he tossed the ball directly out of bounds, a few feet from the sidelines.
Cleveland’s offense, as it currently stands, is just plain overmatched. DTR is now 1-3 as a starter with one career touchdown pass and nine interceptions.
Line: Dolphins 6 ½. O/U: 37 ½.
Prediction: The Browns don’t look anything like the team Jameis Winston led out of the locker room the previous two months. Miami, 20-13.