Where Bengals sit in NFL playoff standings for Week 13

The Cincinnati Bengals fell to 3-8 with the loss to the New England Patriots, mostly slamming the door on postseason hopes.

Despite this, the Bengals might activate Joe Burrow for Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Bengals are 2-1 in the AFC North and the two teams in front of them are 6-5. But a maximum possible record of 9-8 would require rattling off six wins to close the season and still likely miss the playoffs.

Alas, here’s a quick look at where things stand.

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NFL’s AFC playoff standings, Week 13

• Patriots: 10-2

• Broncos: 9-2

• Colts: 8-3

• Ravens: 6-5

• Chargers: 7-4

• Jaguars: 7-4

• Bills: 7-4

• Steelers: 6-5

• Texans: 6-5

• Chiefs: 6-5

• Dolphins: 4-7

• Bengals: 3-8

• Browns: 3-8

The Bengals didn’t get much help over the weekend. The Ravens rattled off their fifth straight win, though the Steelers did lose to the Bears.

Over the final six games, the Bengals do get the Ravens twice and the Browns once, plus a shot at the Bills and Dolphins, teams currently in front of them in the AFC.

Even so, looking back, the inability to reach even league-average defense levels and salvage games against the likes of the Jets and Bears will haunt the Bengals, considering the difference in this year’s AFC would be jumping so far up the standings.

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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Where Bengals sit in NFL playoff standings for Week 13