COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Approaching the final weekend of the 2024 NFL regular season, the Bengals miraculously remain in the playoff hunt and can take one final step towards the postseason. The Browns can play spoilers once again, by playing a part in which team wins the AFC North Division.
Here is a look into Week 18’s games:
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Saturday, Jan. 4 at Acrisure Stadium, 8:30 p.m.
The Cincinnati Bengals stayed in the hot seat with a thrilling overtime victory over the Denver Broncos, one of two teams in front of the Bengals in the race for the final playoff spot.
Cincinnati’s chance of making the postseason has actually dropped since its most recent win, primarily due to circumstances in Kansas City, which plays at Denver this Sunday. Nevertheless, the Bengals can clinch a spot into the tournament if the following occurs:
- Beat the Steelers: Cincinnati, winners of four straight, travels to Pittsburgh for a primetime matchup Saturday night. In their earlier match this season the teams combined to score 82 points with quarterback Joe Burrow throwing for 309 yards and three touchdowns. … The Bengals defense, however, allowed 520 total yards, including 410 passing by QB Russell Wilson, and the Steelers held on for the win… . Pittsburgh CB Joey Porter Jr. was flagged six times in the first matchup, including three for pass interference. … The Steelers have lost three straight and Wilson has been sacked 10 times during that stretch. … The Steelers have allowed 29 sacks all season. … Tight end Pat Freiermuth is averaging seven receptions for 85.5 yards over his last four games played against the Bengals. … RB Chase Brown is questionable with a sprained ankle he suffered while sliding near the goal line to wind down the clock against Denver late in the fourth quarter. … The Bengals scored a touchdown on the next play. … RB Khalil Herbert helped lead the Bengals to a game-winning overtime drive over the Broncos with 23 yards on four carries. … Joe Burrow needs 359 yards passing to reach 5,000 for the season to become the 10th player ever to do so. … If and/or when the Ravens beat the Browns, the Steelers would be locked into the fifth or sixth seed. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he wants the “stench” of losing off the team, but it could leave the door open to rest a few starters if there’s no shot at the AFC North crown.
- Denver loss: Denver (9-7) hosts Kansas City in the season finale. All things being equal, The Chiefs might have the upper hand, but in locking up the No. 1 seed for the playoffs, head coach Andy Reid announced several starters will rest this weekend, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Should the Kansas City backups beat the Broncos, the Bengals would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker based off last week’s overtime victory.
- Miami loss: Miami (8-8) travels to New York to face the Jets. The Dolphins have lost 12 straight games when temperatures are below 40 degrees and could be without QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been limited with a hip injury. But should Miami win, it would finish ahead of Cincinnati in a tie-breaker scenario due to a better conference record. The Jets have lost their previous two games by a combined score of 59-23.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during an NFL game in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Line: Bengals 1 ½. O/U: 48.5
Prediction: Pittsburgh has been exposed by playoff teams in December giving Cincinnati a recipe to win. Bengals 31-24.
Cleveland Browns (3-13) at Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Saturday, Jan. 4 at M&T Bank Stadium, 4:30 p.m.
This game would have potential were Jameis Winston still the starting quarterback. In their first matchup, Winston produced 334 yards and three touchdowns, lighting a fire under the Browns’ anemic offense. But in the wake of another lost season, the Browns turned to Dorian Thompson-Robinson who has thrown six interceptions, four in three weeks, and zero TDs over 115 passing attempts this season. In the last three weeks the team has scored 16 total points.
Cleveland, now in the running for the top draft pick this April, announced Thursday that Bailey Zappe will start Saturday. Zappe, on the practice squad since joining the team in October, is now the ninth quarterback to start for Cleveland over the past two seasons, the most of any franchise in NFL history.
Not that Cleveland is interested in doing any favors for division rivals, but an upset over Baltimore, combined with a Pittsburgh win over Cincinnati, flips the division back to the Steelers.
Line: Ravens 17½. O/U: 41½.
Prediction: Expect more of the same. Ravens 28-9.