Joe Burrow is dealing with yet another significant injury, this time to his toe, which will require about 12 weeks of recovery time before a possible return.
At 2-0, the Cincinnati Bengals win enough without their elite starting quarterback to get in position to make the AFC playoffs? That’s the most important question.
Assuming Burrow can return by late December, the Bengals can still be a dangerous AFC playoff team. Had Cincinnati had its typical slow 0-2 start under Zach Taylor, that would seem like a long shot.
But with the Bengals’ schedule over the next three months, that’s now a real possibility, whether backup Jake Browning or an outside acquisition replaces Burrow at QB.
Here’s breaking down the chances of the Bengals at least earning a wild-card berth:
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Bengals’ updated 2025 season outlook
Bengals’ remaining schedule
With the Weeks 1 and 2 games vs. the Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars ending in victory and a 2-0 start, here’s looking at the rest of the Bengals’ slate, with all the games Burrow is expected to miss in bold:
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time (ET) | TV channel |
| 3 | Sunday, Sept. 21 | at Vikings | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 4 | Monday, Sept. 29 | at Broncos | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| 5 | Sunday, Oct. 5 | vs. Lions | 4:25 p.m. | Fox |
| 6 | Sunday, Oct. 12 | at Packers | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
| 7 | Thursday, Oct. 16 | vs. Steelers | 8:15 p.m. | Prime Video |
| 8 | Sunday, Oct. 26 | vs. Jets | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 9 | Sunday, Nov. 2 | vs. Bears | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 10 | Sunday, Nov. 9 | Bye | —— | —- |
| 11 | Sunday, Nov. 16 | at Steelers | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 12 | Sunday, Nov. 23 | vs. Patriots | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 13 | Thursday, Nov. 27 | at Ravens | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
| 14 | Sunday, Dec. 7 | at Bills | 4:25 p.m. | Fox |
| 15 | Sunday, Dec. 14 | vs. Ravens | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| 16 | Sunday, Dec. 21 | at Dolphins | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
| 17 | TBD | vs. Cardinals | TBD | TBD |
| 18 | TBD | vs. Browns | TBD | TBD |
The Bengals have three more AFC West division games between now and mid-December, including the Pittsburgh Steelers twice and Baltimore Ravens on the road. Playing the entire tough NFC North is brutal, but it is balanced out by playing three weak teams from the AFC East. The bye in Week 10 says Burrow is in line to miss 11 games.
MORE: Where Bengals rank in latest NFL power rankings
Bengals’ projections for Weeks 3-6
Unfortunately, the next month is rather tough with three-fourths of the NFC North on the table, including games at the Minnesota Vikings and at the Green Bay Packers, sandwiching a Week 5 home date with the high-scoring Detroit Lions. In Week 4, Cincinnati faces a 2024 AFC playoff team in the Denver Broncos.
The Lions, Vikings and Broncos have looked more vulnerable than expected early, but all are still tough defensive matchups for Jake Browning or any other potential replacement QB. The red-hot Packers in Lambeau seems like a no-chance game minus Burrow.
Prediction: Bengals go 1-3 to drop to 3-3
Bengals’ projections for Weeks 7-9
This is where the Bengals need to dominate, with three consecutive home games vs. the struggling Steelers in Week 7 (on a Thursday night), the New York Jets’ mess in Week 8 and the Chicago Bears’ issues in Week 9.
This is a needed break in the middle after that brutal upcoming month. The Bengals can get it done with their strong offensive supporting cast, including Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown. Keep in mind Browning went 4-3 in 7 starts in 2023 when the Bengals finished on the cusp of the playoffs at 9-8 overall.
Prediction: Bengals go 3-0 to improve to 6-3
MORE: How Jake Browning led game-winning drive in place of Joe Burrow
Bengals’ projections for Week 11-14
The Bengals can’t lose in Week 10, getting the reprieve of a bye near the end of Burrow’s expected absence. Going to Pittsburgh in Week 11 and hosting the New England Patriots in Week 12 are winnable. But the bummer is that stretch is followed by back-to-back road games at Baltimore and Buffalo, two games that would be difficult to win even with Burrow.
Prediction: Bengals go 2-2 to get to 8-5
Bengals’ projections for Week 15-18
Burrow will do his best, as Bengals fans know, to come back right when the projected recovery window ends after 12 weeks. That would mean he’s back for the key Ravens’ rematch at home in Week 15. If the Bengals can win that with Burrow, they should be able to take down the Miami Dolphins, the Arizona Cardinals and the Cleveland Browns to win out.
Prediction: Bengals go 3-1 to get to 11-6
Can the Bengals make the playoffs?
The short answer is, yes. The AFC is weak overall beyond the Bills and Ravens. Even the Chiefs need to dig out of an 0-2 hole. The Chargers and the AFC South champion will make the playoffs, but the AFC West might have only one other team, the Chiefs or the Broncos, qualify. That would leave two spots available for wild cards. The Bengals and Steelers would be the prime candidates over upstarts such as the Patriots, Raiders and potential AFC South runners-up.
The Bengals’ defense is still the biggest concern for winning games. But there are signs that the unit is improving with Al Golden scheming. Speaking of systems, Cincinnati has a good one under Zac Taylor with its skill players to help lift Browning (or another QB).
The sky would be falling again in Cincinnati had Burrow go down at 0-2. But for a change, a hot start can save their season later, and give them a real shot to make noise in the playoffs.
