Bengals at Raiders: Which Team Has the Best Chance to Make the Playoffs?

If you like to bet on football, the Bengals at Raiders matchup in Week 11 is a challenging game to pick. Both teams are still in the mix for playoff spots, but time is running out.

Neither team has an easy schedule to finish the season, so winning in Week 11 is critical. So keep reading for a deeper look at who has a better chance of making it to the postseason.

Cincinnati Bengals

Second-year quarterback Joe Burrow is starting to look as good as advertised. The number two draft pick from 2020 has improved his numbers in several categories. With a QB rating of 102.6, Burrow’s completion percentage has increased three points from almost the same number of games as last year.

Burrow tossed 20 TDs in nine games compared to 13 a year ago. But the most significant change is he’s thrown six more interceptions. To his credit, Joe Burrow hasn’t lost a fumble, which was a problem for the rookie in 2020.

The Bengals have relied a lot on Burrow’s arm to move the chains, but coach Zac Taylor has a new plan for this game. So expect more running plays on short third downs. Despite some issues on 3rd down, inside the red zone, the Cincinnati Bengals have been efficient.

The Bengals have scored every time from inside the 20-yard line this year. And 83.3% of those scores have been touchdowns. The problem is they’ve only been in the red zone 12 times all season.

To win against the Raiders, Cincinnati will need more of a ground effort. Las Vegas is ranked 12th in pass defense but only 27th against the run. Unfortunately, there’s not much else to separate these two teams.

Las Vegas Raiders

The bad news doesn’t seem to stop coming in what started as a promising season for the Las Vegas Raiders. A brutal loss to the divisional rival Chiefs became worse with the news of another critical loss to the offense. The Raider running game will have to do without fullback Alec Ingold for the rest of the season.

It’s hard not to feel for a team that has endured so much turmoil. But Derek Carr remains positive his team can turn their fortunes around. Another loss in Week 11 will all but end a season that opened with three straight wins.

The Raiders still own the 2nd ranked pass offense and 7th overall offense, but Derek Carr has struggled the last two games, and another hit to the backfield doesn’t help matters. Carr has proven his elite status, but this team can’t rely only on his abilities to get to the promised land.

For the Raiders to get back on the winning track, they will have to somehow improve their 28th ranked running game. And eight sacks are already one short of all last year on Derek Carr.

After Week 11 against the Bengals, six of seven opponents the Raiders will face are in playoff contention. Unfortunately, prospects look grim for a team that keeps losing key personnel.

Bengals at Raiders (+1)

Both these clubs have demanding schedules to close out the regular season. Yet the Cincinnati Bengals come in rested for a test against a reeling Raiders team.

Earlier this year, the Las Vegas Raiders were a real threat to take the AFC West. In Week 11, they are hanging on for dear life. I like the Bengals to win this game by at least a field goal.

I also think the Cincinnati Bengals have a better path to the playoffs with a healthier lineup. So who do you think has the best shot in this Bengals at Raiders matchup? Open an account at BetMGM’s online sports betting site today to place your bets on this season’s NFL action.