Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals' nightmare scenario in AFC North comes down to beating Baltimore

Published Dec. 14, 2015 5:05 p.m. ET

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The beginning of a nightmare scenario unfolded for fans of the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers

Not only did the Bengals squander an opportunity to win the division and improve their chances of earning a first-round bye, they also lost quarterback Andy Dalton for what is believed to be the remainder of the regular season -- at least. Backup AJ McCarron will now be tasked with guiding the Bengals into the postseason, with Sunday's loss leaving the door ajar for the Steelers to swoop in and steal the division. 

Assuming the next shoe drops and Cincinnati loses its next two games against San Francisco and Denver, all the Bengals have to do is beat the Ravens in the season finale to take home the division, even if the Steelers win out. Both teams would finish 11-5, but the Bengals would earn the tiebreaker via a 5-1 mark within the division, one game better than Pittsburgh.

The Ravens present a favorable matchup for Cincinnati, even if Dalton is still on the shelf. The Bengals have won four straight against Baltimore, and that was before the Ravens entered their current freefall. At 4-9 and with Matt Schaub or Jimmy Clausen presumably at quarterback, the Bengals will be sitting pretty in Week 17, even if they get there on a two-game losing streak. 

Week 16's Monday night date in Denver will go a long way in determining if the Bengals can earn a first-round bye, and therefore an extra week for Dalton's thumb to heal. 

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