Admin January 4, 2025
NFL Week 18 picks: Why you should consider Dolphins, Commanders, and Packers
Lorenzo Reyes is back with his three best bets ahead of Week 17 games. Find out why he likes the Dolphins, Commanders, and Packers to cover the spread.
Lorenzo’s Locks
Had you asked Cincinnati Bengals fans after Week 13 whether the team was in the playoffs, they would have laughed in your face.
The Bengals were coming off a crushing 44-38 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game that Cincinnati, by most accounts, needed to win to position itself for a run at the AFC wild card. After that defeat, the Bengals were 4-8, and it seemed like their hopes of being competitive during the 2024 NFL season had eroded.
Since then, the Bengals have won four consecutive games and worked their way back into the playoff picture. Although they aren’t officially in the AFC’s projected field of seven, they remain among the teams “In The Hunt” for a playoff berth.
Joe Burrow and Co. hope to move things in a positive direction in Week 18, but it isn’t entirely up to them.
Are the Bengals in the playoffs? Here’s what to know about where they stand in the AFC as they prepare for a postseason run or an extended vacation.
Are the Bengals in the playoffs?
The Bengals are not currently in the playoffs but could make it in if a few results break their way in Week 18. They need the following to happen to make it into the postseason:
The Athletic’s playoff prediction model estimates that the Bengals have a 6% chance of all three results occurring, allowing Cincinnati to make the postseason.
As such, the Bengals are unlikely to make the postseason but still haven’t been officially eliminated from postseason contention entering Week 18.
NFL playoff picture Week 18
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners, No. 1 seed)*
- Buffalo Bills (12-3, AFC East winners, No. 2 seed)*
- Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North leaders)*
- Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners, No. 4 seed)*
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, wild card No. 1)*
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, wild card No. 2)*
- Denver Broncos (9-7, wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Miami Dolphins (8-8), Cincinnati Bengals (8-8).
NFC
- Detroit Lions (14-2, NFC North leaders)*
- Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, NFC East winners, No. 2 seed)*
- Los Angeles Rams (10-6, NFC West winners)*
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7, NFC South leaders)
- Minnesota Vikings (14-2, wild card No. 1)*
- Washington Commanders (11-5, wild card No. 2)*
- Green Bay Packers (11-5, wild card No. 3)*
In the hunt: Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.
When do the NFL playoffs start?
The NFL playoffs will begin on Saturday, Jan. 11 with two super wild-card weekend matchups. There will be 13 total playoff games that ultimately lead to Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans, which will occur on Feb. 9.