Bengals' slim playoff chances get some help on Sunday

The Cincinnati Bengals got to kick back and watch the NFL playoff fallout in Week 13 over the weekend.

Joe Burrow’s big return spurred the Bengals to an upset win over the Baltimore Ravens before the weekend, keeping them alive in a chaotic AFC.

Arguably most important for the Bengals was the AFC showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills.

There, the Bills ran all over the Steelers, sending Pittsburgh to 6-6 and into the general chaos of the AFC North. It is, remarkably, still a wide-open division.

As of this writing, that leaves the NFL playoff picture looking like this:

AFC North standings

• Ravens: 6-6

• Steelers: 6-6

• Bengals: 4-8

• Browns: 3-9

AFC playoff standings

• Patriots: 10-2

• Broncos: 9-2

• Jaguars: 8-4

• Ravens: 6-6

• Chargers: 8-4

• Colts: 8-4

• Bills: 8-4

• Texans: 7-5

• Steelers: 6-6

• Chiefs: 6-6

• Dolphins 5-7

• Bengals 4-8

RELATED: Bengals’ playoff outlook, standings update after win vs. Ravens

The Bengals play the Bills next week, then get another shot at the Ravens. They're 3-1 in the AFC North, so somehow, still taking it is a possibility.

Elsewhere in the AFC on Sunday, the AFC North’s Cleveland Browns lost to the San Francisco 49ers. Jacksonville, Miami and Houston all picked up wins.

In the late afternoon slot alongside Bills-Steelers, the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Las Vegas Raiders to remain in a race with the likes of the Bills and multiple AFC South teams for a wild card.

For the Bengals, they sit 12th and need to win out while getting some help to have a shot at taking down the AFC North.

RELATED: Bengals’ win vs. Ravens spotlights Hendrickson, Higgins injury watch

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals' slim playoff chances get some help on Sunday