The Cincinnati Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention after Week 18 of the NFL regular season despite quarterback Joe Burrow putting together a career-best campaign.

The Bengals' Joe Burrow finished the season with Bengals' single-season records in passing yards with 4,918 and TD passes with 43.

In the end, despite a five-game winning streak to close the season, the Cincinnati Bengals’ furious rally to make the 2025 NFL playoffs fell just short. With the Denver Broncos’ blowout win over a backup-laden Kansas City Chiefs team, Denver secured the AFC’s No. 7 seed, leaving an MVP-caliber Joe Burrow on the outside looking in of the postseason.

Joe Burrow almost had enough magic in his right arm to help the Cincinnati Bengals make the playoffs after their sluggish start. Cincinnati came up short in the end but their late-season run proved they are only a clever offseason move or two away from crashing next season's postseason party.

The Cincinnati Bengals missed the playoffs despite the five-game streak to end the season at 9-8. As such, another slow start – a critical flaw in the program in the Zac Taylor era – doomed the season back in September.