With the victory, the Patriots lost the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft. They currently own the No. 4 overall pick after finishing the season with a 4-13 record. Mayo was asked to give a response to Patriots fans who might have been upset by the team winning a game they would have greatly benefitted from losing.
As a result, it is officially the offseason in Cincinnati and a second straight season without a postseason appearance. The silver lining is the Bengals will pick near the middle of the draft as a result. The Bengals will pick one spot higher than they did in the last draft.
The Bills will host the Broncos, Dolphins or Bengals in the wild-card round. Here's what makes all three teams potentially tough matchups.
There are three teams that the Buffalo Bills could play in the playoffs. Two games will decide which one travels to Highmark Stadium.
Brian Callahan and the Tennessee Titans secured the top pick with a 3-14 record. The New England Patriots held that spot prior to their regular-season finale, but a win over the Buffalo Bills dropped them to No. 4 at 4-13. The Cleveland Browns (3-14) finished with the No. 2 pick and the New York Giants (3-14) were slotted No. 3.
In order to claim the No. 7 spot, the Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins need to lose on Sunday. If the Bengals do make the postseason, coach Zac Taylor offered ablunt message to their potential opponents. "They're capable of everything," Taylor said. "They don't want us in this tournament, I promise you."
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) is chased out of bounds by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai (58) during the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) AP
The Bengals took care of their own business, winning five in a row to close out the season, but they were officially eliminated from playoff contention when the Broncos crushed the Chiefs.
See the Bengals' 2025 opponents below. Baltimore Ravens. Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh Steelers. Chicago Bears. Detroit Lions. New England Patriots. New York Jets. Jacksonville Jaguars. Arizona Cardinals.
The Denver Broncos extinguished the Cincinnati Bengals' playoff hopes, and claimed the AFC's No. 7 seed in the NFL playoffs.
Bills fans were holding their breaths after Buffalo's best wide receiver didn't get up after this stellar catch.