The temperature is dropping in Cincinnati, but Paycor Stadium is getting hotter and hotter.
After the Jets fell to the Jaguars on Thursday night, the Bengals clinched a playoff spot by virtue of that loss. Sitting at 10-4, they control their own destiny for the AFC North and even a top-two seed in the AFC, mirroring a run the Bengals haven't seen since they made five straight playoff appearance in the last decade.
Nothing is guaranteed for Cincinnati though. They have to find a way to thaw through a New England Patriots team who could potentially see their playoff hopes falter away if they lose to the Bengals on Christmas Eve. The Bengals have never won a game at Gillette Stadium. Never.
Cincinnati has only beaten Patriots head coach Bill Belichick twice, with the most recent win coming back in 2013. The Bengals will be fairly healthy as they'll be without tight end Hayden Hurst for the third straight game and edge rusher Sam Hubbard.
The Strictly Stripes Podcast crew gives you all the final updates, predictions and previews you need for Saturday's battle for AFC playoff supremacy.
This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.
Music: Starfields by Hallman
Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/
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