The Cincinnati Bengals (10-4) can clinch a playoff berth this weekend with a win over the New England Patriots (7-7) or a loss or tie by the New York Jets.
When asked if quarterback Joe Burrow was aware of this scenario, Cincinnati’s QB1 said he was not because the focus is on winning the division.
The Bengals have higher ambitions than just clinching a playoff spot.
“The goal is always the division title,” Burrow said on Tuesday. “Obviously making the playoffs is great and we can clinch on Saturday, but that's not really the goal."
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Right now, the Bengals are sitting atop of the AFC North. Baltimore losing to the Browns in Week 15 put Cincinnati in the driver’s seat, but the Bengals needed to beat the Buccaneers to take it.
They did so with their impressive comeback win in Tampa on Sunday afternoon.
If the Bengals lose to the Patriots and the Ravens beat the Falcons this weekend, the Ravens will go back to the top seed in the division because they beat Cincinnati once early this season. The Ravens and Bengals will face off one more time in the final week of the season likely for the division crown.
That’s why the focus remains on winning the division before they think about the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC which is in the Bengals’ sights. Right now, Buffalo and Kansas City are ahead of Cincinnati in the AFC standings.
“We would need some help for that, but our goal is to go 1-0 this week and I think the rest will take of itself from there,” Burrow said.
Bengals preparing for road game vs. New England Patriots
The Bengals are preparing for another road trip on a short week. Due to the weather conditions expected in Cincinnati on Friday, the team is leaving for New England on Thursday. Typically, they would leave on Friday for the Saturday game.
Playing on Saturday already shortened the week in terms of giving the coaches and players one less day to prepare, but now they also must prepare to travel a day earlier than expected.
“It's always tough,” Burrow said. “You still have to put in the same amount of work, it's just a day less so you're here longer, you're studying more. It's just tough."
Burrow is preparing to face veteran head coach Bill Belichick for the first time in his career. Belichick is known for his defensive mind and ability to scheme up a plan to take away his opponents’ best player.
New England ranks No. 7 in points allowed per game (19.2), No. 9 in rushing yards allowed per game (110.3) and No. 9 in passing yards per game (202.0).
How the Bengals can slow down Matt Judon and Josh Uche
Saturday’s game is not going to be an easy contest for the Bengals by any means.
And Burrow knows it.
“They're well coached,” Burrow said. “A lot of time you watch film and you think you can take advantage of this guy or this guy and they don't really have any of those. They're all good players that understand their scheme, understand their leverages and they've got good rushers and a good rush plan. It will be a challenge for us."
The Patriots have two top edge rushers on their roster in Matt Judon and Josh Uche. Judon ranks No. 2 in the NFL in sacks (14.5) and Uche ranks No. 10 with 10.5.
For Cincinnati to win, they’ll have to execute at a high level in a hostile environment. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has plenty of experience from his time coaching in the AFC East at Gillette Stadium.
He knows the type of performance it will take from his team to win and is looking forward to the challenge.
“We know that we've got a really tough road game and this is gonna be a difficult environment vs a really good team,” Taylor said. “Everybody's gonna have to be at their best on Saturday.”
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