Bengals power rankings update as playoffs remain possible

Joe Burrow returned and the Cincinnati Bengals are alive. The Thanksgiving win over the Baltimore Ravens has kept the door open for the franchise in the AFC North.

That means a shot at the playoffs, too. Next? A game against the Buffalo Bills.

So far, the Bengals remain near the bottom of the various power rankings across the media.

USA Today: No. 20 (Last Week: 23)

From Nate Davis:

As obviously important as it is to have QB Joe Burrow back in the lineup, this team's story might be equally influenced by a defense that the locker room almost universally cited for beating Baltimore. Cincy has certainly been much better on that side of the ball in recent weeks.

ESPN: No. 22 (Last Week: 25)

From Ben Baby: (on late-season X-factor)

Very few rookies are shouldering as much of their team's hopes as Carter. The fourth-round pick out of Clemson is the starting middle linebacker and relays the team's defensive playcalls. Defensive coordinator Al Golden noted that Carter did a good job of operating the run defense in the team's Week 12 loss to the Patriots. Cincinnati built on that performance with a five-takeaway outing against Baltimore. If the Bengals' defense can play well with Carter in the middle, Cincinnati will hang around the playoff conversation.

RELATED: Bengals' slim playoff chances get some help on Sunday

The Athletic: No. 21 (Last Week: 25)

From Josh Kendall and Chad Graff:

One week after slowing down the Patriots, the Bengals’ struggling defense bottled up Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. It’s just a two-week sample size, but maybe this Cincinnati defense (which began the season in historically bad fashion) is turning a corner. Oh, and the return of Joe Burrow helped a bit, too.

NFL.com: No. 22 (Last Week: 25)

From Eric Edholm:

Last week's debate about whether Joe Burrowshould come back is dead, thank goodness. Sure, he could suffer another injury this season, but the argument that Burrow can't do enough to help this downtrodden team win took a major blow following the Bengals' thrashing of the Ravens in Baltimore on Thanksgiving night. If they can beat the Bills and Ravens (again) over the next two games, then we can discuss their playoff chances. In the meantime, can we talk about the improvements this much-maligned defense has made over the past couple weeks? Perhaps it won't hold up, but it was impossible not to notice the difference in effort and execution against the Patriots and Ravens. It's also impossible not to wonder what might have been had the Bengals simply beaten the Jets and Bears, or even New England. Then we wouldn't have to wait a few more weeks to speculate on their playoff chances.

FOX Sports: No. 21 (Last Week: 27)

From Ralph Vacchiano:

The return of Joe Burrow gave them new life, but it didn't change their reality. They are 4-8 and have to win all their remaining games, starting this weekend in Buffalo. And they’ll need help.

NBC Sports: No. 21 (Last Week: 26)

From Mike Florio:

If Joe Burrow had played against the Patriots, they might be only one game behind the division leaders.

CBS Sports: No. 27 (Last Week: 28)

From Pete Prisco:

At 3-8, they are done. But if he is cleared and wants to play, why shouldn't he?

RELATED: Bengals' offensive line quietly providing big hope for the future

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals power rankings update as playoffs remain possible