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.

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.

For the Bengals to get into the playoffs, they need the Denver Broncos to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets to beat the Miami Dolphins. Both of the games will be played during the early afternoon 4:25 p.m. time slot. Cincinnati will know if their season will continue by 8 p.m. or so on Sunday night.

The Bengals need to win and get some help to sneak into the NFL postseason. Here's how the Bengals can make the playoffs in Week 18.

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

Bills fans were holding their breaths after Buffalo's best wide receiver didn't get up after this stellar catch.

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.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Covington is set to interview with the Cincinnati Bengals for their open defensive coordinator job. New England gave him permission to interview elsewhere despite not being officially let go yet.

The No. 2-seeded Buffalo Bills will make their sixth straight postseason appearance on Sunday when they host the No. 7-seeded Denver Broncos in the Wild Card round. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season,

The Cincinnati Bengals will not be participating in the postseason again this year, but most of you are still going to watch. Especially with an AFC North matchup on tap in the Wildcard Round with the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers.