Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis doesn't view the regular season finale as an opportunity to rest players and allow minor bruises to heal.
In fact, it's a win at all costs type of weekend.
"It’s a big game for us. We don’t know what it’ll mean until it’s over, and really not until later that evening, but we’re going to do everything we can to win," said Lewis on Tuesday. "We've got to continue to push forward on offense, defense and special teams, in all three phases, and play better. We know we’re going to play a good football team that has a lot to play for, as we do as well."
When asked to confirm that the Bengals will be full-go, despite having already clinched the division title, Lewis promptly said, "Yes. Full-go."
The remaining postseason scenarios are simple.
Win and the Bengals can't do much worse than the No. 3 seed. If the Buffalo Bills, who beat the Miami Dolphins, take out the New England Patriots, Cincinnati slides into the second seed (if they beat the Ravens).
If the Bengals and Patriots lose, and the Indianapolis Colts beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Colts slide into the second position and the Bengals fall to No. 4 - the Colts beat the Patriots and both teams have a one-game lead over the Bengals.
WINNER Ravens/Bengals |
WINNER Bills/Patriots |
WINNER Jaguars/Colts |
BENGALS IN AFC | BENGALS IN AFCN |
Bengals secure the No. 3 seed. | Clinched the division in week 16. | |||
Bengals secure the No. 3 seed. | Clinched the division in week 16. | |||
Bengals secure the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. | Clinched the division in week 16. | |||
Bengals secure the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. | Clinched the division in week 16. | |||
Bengals fall to the No. 4 seed. | Clinched the division in week 16. | |||
Bengals secure the No. 3 seed. | Clinched the division in week 16. | |||
Bengals fall to the No. 4 seed and the Colts secure the No. 2. | Clinched the division in week 16. | |||
Bengals secure the No. 3 seed. | Clinched the division in week 16. |
If Cincinnati secures the third seed, the question becomes, who will they play in the first round? With the first two teams given a bye week, the No. 3 seed hosts the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed hosts the five.
The crew at The Phinsider put together an easy to understand chart.