Without Joe Burrow, the Bengals might be able to bumble their way into the postseason.

When the Cincinnati Bengals were 5-6 a week ago, they didn’t seem like a team that should be considered for the postseason. That being said, things don’t appear quite as dire for the Stripes going forward after watching Jake Browning throw for over 300 yards and appear like a reliable option at quarterback while Joe Burrow is out.

Santori Miles noted on X that the Bengals are just one win away from being as high as the number five pick. The teams that are upcoming on their schedule are the ones vying for that coveted spot ahead of them.

Put another way, the Bengals could stutter into the postseason if they win those games (even if they are against backup quarterbacks).

Can the Bengals actually qualify for the postseason?

It’s important to note that the Bengals have a backup quarterback, Browning, who has already played in two games. He appeared more like a backup quarterback in one game and better than multiple league starters in another. Because of the small sample size, we are unsure of which version of Browning the Bengals will have going forward.

It’s also important to remember that the Bengals defense has been a huge letdown this season. Despite Cincinnati’s victory on Monday night, their defense allowed the Jaguars to score 31 points and throw the ball wherever they pleased.

Even if Browning plays well into the future, I’m not sure I can realistically buy into the Bengals until the defense gets fixed. And that’s a big if. There was a reason Browning was the backup quarterback. Will he be able to perform well in the final weeks of play? Can the defense put up significant stops?

The Cincinnati Bengals seem to be vying for a postseason spot, and the AFC Wild Card race is expected to be extremely competitive.