The Cincinnati Bengals stepped onto the field Thursday night knowing exactly what was at stake. Their season, battered by injuries and inconsistency, had reached a point where another misstep would push them to the brink of elimination. But with Joe Burrow healthy again and a national Thanksgiving audience watching, Cincinnati delivered the kind of performance that reminded everyone why this team still commands respect in the AFC.
Burrow looked revitalized, firing two touchdown passes and controlling the game with the calm confidence that has defined his young career. Yet it was the Bengals’ defense that truly set the tone. After weeks of instability, the unit forced five turnovers, swarming the Baltimore Ravens and never allowing them to find a rhythm. The 32–13 win wasn’t just a victory—it was a statement that the Bengals aren’t ready to fade away.
Still, the road ahead is steep. At 4–8, Cincinnati remains 2.5 games behind in the AFCNorth. A Pittsburgh Steelers loss on Sunday would help, trimming the gap to two. The Bengals have already split their season series with Pittsburgh and still have one more shot at Baltimore, giving them a sliver of control over their fate.
To actually win the division, Cincinnati may need to win out—a tall task that includes another showdown with the Ravens and plenty of scoreboard-watching. Pittsburgh’s remaining slate features tough opponents like Buffalo, Detroit, and two meetings with Baltimore, offering Cincinnati hopes of additional help.
The wild-card race, meanwhile, is crowded. All three AFC wild-card teams already sit at seven wins, making the division title the Bengals’ most realistic path to the postseason.
Their most daunting remaining matchup looms in Week 14: a trip to Buffalo. Survive that, and Cincinnati would return home at 5–8 for a massive game against the Ravens. After that, the schedule softens, with three straight games against teams with losing records—the Dolphins, Cardinals, and Browns.
A loss to Buffalo wouldn’t eliminate them, but it would shrink their odds to nearly nothing. Still, as Thursday night proved, the Bengals aren’t done fighting. And as long as there’s a path—no matter how narrow—there’s still a chance.