The Cincinnati Bengals appear to be in the driver’s seat on the way to a playoff spot.
It’s early, but most projections at the bye week still have the Bengals taking care of business against some soft parts of their schedule to wrap up a playoff spot this winter.
Take ESPN’s Football Power Index, which still gives the Bengals a 76 percent chance to make the playoffs after running simulations. Only a 33 percent chance to win the AFC North, but alas.
Currently on a bye week, the Bengals will need to exit it and pick up a win over the Baltimore Ravens before getting a soft 0-5 Tennessee team.
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The Bengals also have 1-3-1 Washington, 1-4 New Orleans, 2-2 Carolina and 2-3 Indianapolis still on the schedule.
If the Bengals can take care of teams that are supposedly worse than them, they only lost in Pittsburgh by three in Week 3. That rematch, plus four other AFC North games, give them a strong shot at the postseason.
Lots of ifs in there, like better linebacker play, better safety play, finding running game success and staying healthy, yes. But the Bengals, despite being a mildly disappointing 3-2 at the break, look just fine.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals’ chances of making playoffs look interesting at bye