Bengals' playoff hopes need a miracle after uncharacteristic error by Burrow and porous defense

Expecting Joe Burrow to play perfect football for six weeks after returning from a turf toe injury and lead the Bengals to the playoffs was always a tall order, even though they nearly managed it last year by winning their last five games.

The harsh reality is that unless Burrow plays error-free football, Cincinnati’s chances of winning are slim given its porous defense.

Cincinnati (4-9) has just a 1% playoff chance after Sunday’s 39-34 loss at Buffalo. The Bengals need both Pittsburgh (7-6) and Baltimore (6-7) to falter, and must win out themselves, to claim the AFC North via a three-way head-to-head tiebreaker.

“I know we’re up against the wall here with whatever our opportunities are, but we got a big home game this week in the division, so we’ve got to be able to pick ourselves up and find a way to respond,” coach Zac Taylor said.

The defeat to the Bills marked the seventh time in two seasons — and the third game this year — where Cincinnati has scored at least 30 points and lost.

The Bengals also became the first team to lose at least three games in consecutive seasons in which they scored at least 34 points. The only other squads to do that in a season are the 2002 Kansas City Chiefs and 1985 San Diego Chargers.

After two weeks of improvement in run defense and tackling, Cincinnati’s earlier problems resurfaced. Poor tackling and lapses in run defense again hampered the team.

Buffalo had 183 rushing yards as James Cook and Josh Allen both had at least 78 yards. Allen’s 17-yard scramble up the middle on third-and-15 with 1:54 remaining allowed the Bills to run out the clock.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Bengals had 13 missed tackles on Sunday after having 12 combined the past two weeks.

The sixth pick-6 of Burrow’s career couldn’t have come at a worse time. The 63-yard interception return came when Buffalo ran a corner blitz, and Bills cornerback Christian Benford jumped the route on a hot read. The second pick came on a tipped pass.

Given the wintery conditions, Burrow’s 264 passing yards and three touchdowns were solid. However, earlier missed opportunities — such as failing to hold a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead against the Jets on Oct. 26, or missing a key tackle in the final minutes against Chicago a week later — have left the Bengals with little room for error.

As a result, the Bengals are assured their first losing record since 2020 and are likely to miss the postseason for the third straight year, despite boasting one of the league’s best quarterback and receiving units.

“Obviously, we’re not where we want to be, as a team or an organization, 4-9 is not good. But we got four games to go and show high-level execution, high-level playmaking,” Burrow said. “I’m going to relish the opportunity to go out and play with these guys, and continue to try to put on a show for everybody watching. I hope that comes across, and I hope that I know I’m going to continue to work hard to put myself in a good position to make plays.”

The Bengals were 10 of 12 on third down, with an 83.3% success rate, their best since 1991. The previous high was 77.8% (14 of 18) in a 2007 win over Tennessee.

Covering tight ends remains a major weakness for Cincinnati’s defense. Buffalo’s tight ends had 11 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns, exposing this ongoing problem.

TE Mike Gesicki had a season-high six receptions for 86 yards and his first touchdown.

S Geno Stone, who came into the game tied for the league lead with 18 missed tackles, had three more, including one on Allen’s key third-and-15 run.

DE Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) missed five straight games. CB PJ Jules left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury. Higgins returned after two concussion evaluations.

Wide receiver Jermaine Burton was waived on Monday. The second-year player was suspended for Sunday's game. He did not appear in a game this season after having four catches for 107 yards in 14 games last year.

1-8: Cincinnati’s record in out-of-division games.

60.8%: Decrease in Cincinnati’s win probability percentage after Burrow’s pick-6 (from 77% to 16.2%). That is the single biggest win probability swing on a play outside of the final 2 minutes since 2016.

Next up, the Bengals host AFC North rival Baltimore, currently 6-7 and one game out of the division lead after losing 27-22 to Pittsburgh. Cincinnati will try to sweep the season series for the first time since 2021 following its 32-14 win at Baltimore on Thanksgiving night.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) comes down with a touchdown catch as Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor looks out from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) shovels the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

WREXHAM, Wales (AP) — Wrexham's celebrity owners have sold a minority stake in their on-the-rise soccer club to Apollo Sports Capital, a U.S.-based private equity firm.

The deal, which was announced on Monday with no terms disclosed, includes investment by Apollo in the redevelopment of Wrexham's stadium and the surrounding area in the small Welsh city brought to fame by its namesake soccer club since American actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac bought it in 2021 and helped create a popular docuseries about the community.

Wrexham, the oldest club in Wales dating to 1864, has earned three consecutive promotions in the English soccer system to reach the second-division Championship for the current season, one level away from the Premier League. Wrexham entered this week in 12th place in the 24-team standings. The team hadn't been in the second division since the 1981-82 season.

“From day one, we wanted to build a sustainable future for Wrexham Association Football Club. And to do it with a little heart and humor. The dream has always been to take this club to the Premier League while staying true to the town. Growth like that takes world-class partners who share our vision and ambition, and Apollo absolutely does,” Wrexham ownership said in a statement distributed by the club.

Reynolds and Mac sold a stake in the club last year to a different investment group, also based in the United States. Apollo recently bought a majority stake in Spanish soccer club Atletico Madrid, a deal expected to be finalized early next year.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, right, and Wrexham's Ollie Palmer pose with trophy at the end of the English League One soccer match between Wrexham and Charlton Athletic at the Racecourse ground in Wrexham, Wales, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)