Even Joe Burrow couldn't bail out the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon. The Bengals entered the final day of the 2024 NFL season still alive in the AFC playoff race—but they needed some help. Sitting at 9–8 on Sunday after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular-season finale the day prior,

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.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is making it clear that there's no truth to the rumors his team intentionally lost its game in Week 18 to shut the Cincinnati Bengals out from the NFL playoffs. The idea popped up on social media last weekend, largely from Bengals fans who believed the Chiefs were afraid to face them in the playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce denied that the team intentionally lost its Week 18 game to ensure that the Cincinnati Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention.

The Cincinnati Bengals didn't get another shot at the Kansas City Chiefs this season because they fell short of the playoffs at 9-8. Along the way, fans pointed out on social media that the Chiefs did