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.

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.

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.

The Denver Broncos extinguished the Cincinnati Bengals' playoff hopes, and claimed the AFC's No. 7 seed in the NFL playoffs.

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals will not have a chance to make another run at a Super Bowl this year, missing the NFL Playoffs yet again. The 2024 season for the Bengals didn’t go exactly as planned,

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.

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.

This year's NFL awards races are some of the most competitive in recent years. Several outstanding candidates are worthy of consideration for each award, including Most Valuable Player, Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year,

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills would await the Bengals in the wild-card round if Cincinnati gets help Sunday from the Chiefs and Jets.