On the last round of the regular season, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, on Dec 28 at 23:30 GMT, a decision will be made about the team that will acquire one of the 14 spots for the postseason playoffs. Both the Broncos and the Bengals can achieve the objective provided that the hosts have defeated the Browns on Dec 22. If this is not the case, then this match will be inconsequential and Cincinnati will have to look for the next season.
According to the system that determines which team advances, there are 3 remaining spots for the AFC division. The Broncos, the Ravens and the Chargers have a higher chance of clinching them. The Colts, the Dolphins and the Bengals have to win both of their last matches and hope that the other teams will lose at least one. For the hosts, it is quite lucky that they can inflict that loss on one of their major opponents.
In matches like this the stats make no difference
It’s a «do or die» situation for the Bengals. They have to forget everything and focus on defeating their opponents. It is quite likely that when they meet on the field, the Broncos will have secured the spot they want. Especially, if the Ravens and the Chargers suffer defeats. For Baltimore this is quite possible as they face the Steelers currently holding the best record in the NFL. Therefore, the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Cincinnati.
There is no doubt that Burrow can move down the field and score points plentily. So, there is actually only one question to answer. Can the Bengal defense hold the Broncos? It’s the answer that everyone is looking for. Is the motive sufficient enough for a performance worthy of the playoffs?
The odds favor the home field advantage
Certainly, the bookmakers seem to think so, as they offer @1.87 for the hosts and @2.25 for the visitors. However, it is a quite complicated situation that involves 6 teams and it is quite possible that things will be completely different after the matches of week 16.
We will keep a close watch on this one for you and we will bring you the latest a week from now when it will be time for us to make our final recommendation.
Update
As expected, the Bengals defeated the Browns rather easily with 24-6. The Broncos lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 34-27. These outcomes spell out a match with everything to win and everything to lose for both sides. For the hosts it represents the last chance of making it to the post season. The visitors may be in a better spot for that but if they do not win, they will have to rely on the results of other matches to see if they can make it through.
All guns blazing for both sides
For the Bengals the motivation is double. They can not only play at the playoffs, they can also finish the year on a positive record instead of having more losses than wins. At this time, as it stands, after the confirmed slots and the wild card distribution, they are at the top spot of the teams on the hunt.
On the other hand, the visitors, having a slightly better record than Cincinnati (9 – 6 vs 7-8) can pass even if they lose, depending on the results of the Los Angeles Charges and the Indianapolis Colts. Of course, they can secure the position if they win.
A tight game of defenses
Under these circumstances, it’s all a question on how well the defenses will perform. The scoring capabilities of both teams are well known. Since, the chances for victory are 50-50, we will not go for who will win. The sensible thing to do, which also comes with a decent chance of success, is to venture in the over under market and go for under 48.5 points total at the price of @1.90.
Now that you have our final proposal for this one, if you haven’t done already so, you can go open an account at the best betting platform and place your wagers.