Chargers beat Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals playoff hopes get a BIG boost

On December 20, 2024By Littum

CINCINNATI — The Bengals may be 6-8, but their playoff hopes are still alive after the Chargers’ win over the Broncos.

Los Angeles rallied past Denver on Thursday night to secure a 34-27 victory.

What does this mean for the Bengalis?

They entered Week 16 needing to win their last three games. They also needed the Broncos or Chargers to lose their last three games.

The Bengals play the Broncos in Week 17, so a Chargers win over Denver was crucial to their chances.

Cincinnati still needs help even if they win, but Thursday night was a step in the right direction.

The Bengals must beat the Browns, Broncos and Steelers to finish 9-8. Then they need the Broncos to lose their Week 18 game against the Chiefs.

Combine that scenario with a Colts loss and a Dolphins loss over the last three weeks, and Cincinnati will qualify for the postseason.

The Bengals’ best path to the playoffs always included a Broncos loss to the Chargers. If Cincinnati wins their next two games, it could force Denver into a “win to get in” Week 18 against the Chiefs.

The Bengals need a lot of help, but Thursday night was a step in the right direction.

For more on the Bengals, subscribe to our YouTube channel and watch the video below:

Be sure to bookmark BengalsTalk.com for the latest Bengals news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and more!