The Associated Press

 

CINCINNATI — Running back Cedric Benson needed only a few seconds to do the playoff math in his head.

The surprising Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) are in contention for a playoff spot heading into the final six games. Four more wins would probably assure them of only their third trip to the postseason in the last 21 years.

“It should,” Benson said. “I think it gets most teams in. I think one team got in with nine (wins) before. I think it can happen.”

Told there’s precedent for teams with even fewer wins reaching the playoffs, Benson smiled.

“There we go!” he said. “It’s looking good.”

Only if they add to that victory total on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns (4-6), one of several struggling teams left on the schedule. The Bengals need to complete a season sweep of their intrastate rival before another less-than-capacity crowd at Paul Brown Stadium.

After losing back-to-back games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore, the Bengals were a game behind the AFC North co-leaders and in good position for a wild card berth. They play in Pittsburgh next week and finish the season at home against Baltimore.

The Ravens lead the division with an 8-3 mark following their 16-6 win over San Francisco on Thursday.

“We’re just excited,” left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “You’ve got a chance to control your own destiny the last six games. Some teams right now don’t, and we’ve been there before, so we know how much it means.”

Even coach Marvin Lewis, who rarely puts extra emphasis on any game, acknowledged that this one could be pivotal.

“We know what things are at stake as we go forward here,” Lewis said. “This is a big game for us — a huge game. Big players need to play big in big games. That is how you become successful in the NFL — you show up and play in games like this when it is an important one.”

The last two weeks, they haven’t quite measured up.

The Bengals fell behind Pittsburgh 14-0, but got themselves in position for a tying touchdown in the closing minutes. Andy Dalton threw the second of his two interceptions to secure the Steelers’ 24-17 win.

Last week in Baltimore, they fell behind 31-17 in the fourth quarter before getting to the Ravens 7-yard line with a chance to tie in the final minute. They came up short again, with the Ravens finishing off a 31-24 win.

Cincinnati is at its best in the fourth quarter, outscoring opponents 97-50.

They’ve been outscored 81-30 in the second quarter, leaving them in position to have to make a big comeback.

“I don’t know what it is that causes that,” said Dalton, who threw five interceptions in those last two games.

The pattern started during the season opener in Cleveland. The Bengals gave up a pair of second-quarter touchdowns and trailed 17-13 with 4:28 to play and Dalton on the sideline with a sore right wrist.

The Browns were caught loitering as the Bengals broke the huddle and pulled off a quick-snap play. A.J. Green was uncovered for a 41-yard touchdown pass from Bruce Gradkowski.

For the Bengals, it was the start of a surprising resurgence. For the Browns, it was the telling start for another dismal season. Coach Pat Shurmur changed the way the Browns huddle after that costly play, and it hasn’t happened again.

“If you get nailed with something, you kind of get what you emphasize, so we’ve tried to take steps and measures to make sure it doesn’t happen,” Shurmur said.

Other things have brought them down, most notably an offense that will go long stretches without a touchdown. Two weeks ago, a bad snap cost them a go-ahead field goal in the closing minutes of a 13-12 loss to Saint Louis.

That quick-snap by the Bengals in the opener became a trend-setter.

“It hurt and I still have a bad taste in mouth from that play,” defensive tackle Phil Taylor said.

The Bengals have dominated the Ohio rivalry lately, winning 11 of the last 14 games. They have some experience and wasting playoff chances. In 2003, they were 8-6 before dropping their last two games. They went 8-5 in 2006, then lost their last three.

“In the past, there were a lot of games where we didn’t respond well — on the road or at home — to teams that we should have played well against,” Whitworth said. I think this team is different, though.”

Starting Sunday, they’ll find out.