The math is officially dead. If you’re checking the standings hoping for a miracle tiebreaker or a complex sequence of events involving seven other teams losing out, I've got some bad news. The Cincinnati Bengals won't make the playoffs this year.
It feels weird to say it while January football is still actually happening, but the 24–0 shutout loss to the Baltimore Ravens back in Week 15 was the final nail. Honestly, this season felt cursed from the jump. You can’t really blame fans for feeling a bit robbed after the high of the 2024 season where Joe Burrow looked like an absolute god, throwing for over 4,900 yards and 43 touchdowns. But that’s the NFL for you. One minute you’re the king of the AFC North, the next you’re staring at a 6–11 record and wondering where the defense went.
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The Reality of the 2025-26 Collapse
The Bengals finished third in the division, trailing behind a 10–7 Steelers squad and an 8–9 Ravens team. They even ended up below the "postseason line" at 11th in the conference. It’s a bitter pill. Especially when you consider they swept the season series against some decent teams like the Dolphins and even managed a 32–14 statement win in Baltimore on Thanksgiving.
But consistency was the ghost they couldn't catch. The defense was basically a sieve for most of the year, ranking 31st overall and dead last in rushing defense. You just aren't winning many games giving up 147 yards on the ground every Sunday.
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Joe Burrow’s Health and the Turf Toe Saga
The biggest "what if" of the year centers on Joe Burrow’s toe. A Grade 3 turf toe injury in Week 2 required surgery and sidelined him for a massive chunk of the season. By the time he returned for that Thanksgiving game, the Bengals were already buried in a 3–8 hole.
- Burrow's Return: He tried to play hero ball, and for a second, it worked.
- The Struggle: Even with his return, the lack of a run game (29th in the league) meant teams could just pin their ears back and hunt him.
- The Fallout: He finished the year taking 55 sacks. That is way too much punishment for a franchise guy.
There was all this chatter in December about whether he should even be out there. Some pundits were practically begging Zac Taylor to shut him down to prevent another catastrophic injury. Burrow, being Burrow, basically told everyone to mind their business, saying he "can't live his life scared." It's that grit that makes Cincy love him, but it’s also what keeps the front office up at night.
What Went Wrong Beyond the Injuries?
It wasn't just the toe. The roster felt thin in places it used to be deep. Trading away Logan Wilson to Dallas for a 2026 seventh-rounder mid-season was a move that signaled the team knew the window for this year had closed. Then Trey Hendrickson went on IR with a hip/pelvis issue in December, and the pass rush basically evaporated.
The offensive line also took a massive step back. When you're 29th in rushing, your play-action becomes useless. It forces Burrow—or whoever is back there—to be perfect on every single drop-back. Nobody is that good.
Key Stats from the 2025 Campaign
Honestly, the numbers are kind of depressing if you're a Bengals fan.
- Record: 6–11
- Turnover Differential: 0 (Perfectly balanced, but not in a good way)
- Points Against: 492 (Nearly 30 points a game)
- Home Record: 3–6 (Paycor Stadium lost its "Jungle" intimidation factor)
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Path Back to the Postseason
The good news? The Bengals are slated to pick 10th in the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s high enough to snag a blue-chip tackle or a game-changing edge rusher. The 2026 opponents are already locked in, and it's a mix of familiar foes and new challenges.
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They’ll face the AFC South next year, meaning dates with Trevor Lawrence’s Jaguars and the Titans at home. They also have to travel to face the Texans and the Colts. Because they finished third in the AFC North, they get a "third-place schedule" draw, which sounds easier but actually includes a home game against the Kansas City Chiefs and a road trip to Miami.
Why the 2026 Outlook is Actually Bright
- The Core is Intact: Extensions for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are already on the books. The "Big Three" are staying together.
- Draft Capital: Picking at No. 10 gives them a chance to fix the interior defensive line, which was the biggest weakness this year.
- Schedule Luck: They get the NFC South next year (Saints, Bucs, Falcons, Panthers), which is historically a more manageable division than the gauntlet they faced in 2025.
Actionable Steps for Bengals Fans This Offseason
If you're wondering what to watch for as the team moves into the spring, keep your eyes on these three specific areas.
- Monitor the Defensive Coordinator Situation: There is a lot of heat on the staff after finishing 31st in total defense. If there isn't a change here, expect a lot of frustrated tweets from the 513 area code.
- The No. 10 Pick Strategy: Follow the scouting reports on offensive tackles like Will Campbell or Kelvin Banks Jr. If the Bengals don't protect Burrow better in 2026, the result will be the same.
- Free Agency Spending: The Bengals have historically been "cheap," but they showed they'd spend to win in 2021. With Burrow's window in its prime, they need to be aggressive in fixing the secondary.
The playoffs might be happening without Cincinnati this month, but the foundation for 2026 is being poured right now. It starts with getting Burrow 100% healthy and ends with finding a way to stop a simple halfback dive. If they can do that, they'll be back in the hunt by next December.