NFL news: Can returning quarterback Joe Burrow lead the Cincinnati Bengals to the AFC play-offs?
Quarterback Joe Burrow returned to action at the weekend in speculation fashion as he led the Cincinnati Bengals to an unexpected win at the Baltimore Ravens.
Burrow missed nine weeks of action due to a turf toe injury suffered in the second round of the new NFL season.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Graeme Bailey takes a look at the Bengals’ play-off chances with a fit-again Burrow leading the line.
Victorious return for Burrow
During Burrow’s absence, the Bengals clearly struggled.
Indeed, when he returned on Thanksgiving weekend, Cincinnati stood on the brink of play-off elimination with a poor 3-6 record.
But Burrow feasted on the limp Ravens, who had gone top of the AFC North on Sunday despite a pitiful display against the New York Jets in Maryland.
Boasting a middling 6-6 record, Baltimore went level with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were humbled at home by Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
And that is the issue – seemingly nobody wants to win the once-mighty AFC North.
Tough odds for Bengals
As things stand, Burrow and the Bengals are seen as 17/2 outsiders to make the play-offs, which is 1/18 that they don’t make it – an implied probability of 94.7%.
To have a chance, Cincinnati are going to have to win the AFC North which means running the card on their remaining five games, with two of those coming against the Steelers and the Ravens.
It is 41/50 that they finish third and 9/1 that they win the division, and that could look very healthy if things go their way against Buffalo this weekend.
The Bengals are currently 39/20 to take the win over the Bills, so even the bookmakers are giving them a chance.
And if they do win, Burrow and the Bengals could be the ones to watch in a crowded AFC play-off battle.
For what it’s worth, they are 60/1 to win the AFC and 140/1 to claim the Super Bowl, so don’t rule out Burrow and the Bengals just yet.
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