The Cincinnati Bengals around quarterback Joe Burrow kept their playoff hopes alive with their fifth win in a row to end the NFL season. But the Bengals still need the help of other clubs. The Baltimore Ravens secured the title in the US professional league AFC North.
Cincinnati won on Saturday evening (January 4th, 2025/local time) among those who were weak at the end of the season Pittsburgh Steelers with 19:17 (13:7) and ended the regular season in the NFL with nine wins and eight defeats. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the season ended with their fourth defeat in a row. The team around quarterback Russell Wilson was already confirmed as a playoff participant.
The Bengals have to go after their strong final spurt in the Regular season but continue to hope that the competition will drop out: should they on Sunday evening Denver Broncos (Record of 9-7, against the Kansas City Chiefs) and the Miami Dolphins (8-8, against New York Jets) lose each of their games, Cincinnati would clinch the last available playoff spot in the AFC.
The Bengals owe the fact that the chance is still alive primarily to quarterback Burrow and their star receiver Ja’Marr Chase, both of whom delivered record-breaking seasons. In Pittsburgh, the two scored a touchdown on Cincinnati’s first possession. The Bengals never gave up the lead, even though only kicker Cade York scored any further points.
Burrow threw for a total of 277 yards, just missing the 5,000-yard mark this season. Chase caught ten passes for 96 yards. This means he will win the league among both prisoners touchdown-Passes (17) as well as in passes caught (127) and yards (1,708) and the so-called Triple Crown fetch.
Ravens make title in the AFC North clear
The Baltimore Ravens secured the division title in the AFC North again on the last day of the game with an easy 35:10 win against the bottom of the division Cleveland Browns. Star quarterback Lamar Jackson finished the season with top marks. With his 217 receiving yards against the Browns, he surpassed the 4,000-yard mark in the season, while at the same time he ran for 63 yards for a total of 915 yards of space. Of his 41 touchdowns, he only scored four so-called ones Interceptions. Jackson had already received the title of most valuable player in the NFL main round in the previous season.
The Ravens also secured third place in the AFC and will therefore face either the Los Angeles Chargers or the Pittsburgh Steelers.