Four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski shared a prediction about the Cincinnati Bengals and where they’ll stand after Week 18. The former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end joined Kay Adams’ “Up & Adams” show on Wednesday to talk about the team’s chances to advance to the postseason.

Gronkowski noted that the slow start is hurting the Bengals’ chances of making it to the big party, urging the AFC North franchise to make changes or the bad starts will continue to derail them.

“I’m selling that they’re going to make the playoffs,” Gronkowski said. “They’re a good team, and obviously their slow start at the beginning of the year finally caught up to them. Usually, they can overcome that over the previous years, but they’re going to have to change something in the offseason program this year and in training camp next year.

“So they get off to about a 3-0 start, a 2-0 start next year because it’s derailing them at this time right now. They’re gonna not make the playoffs like I said at the beginning of the year.”

The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, yet they have struggled to find consistency after a strong start in the last couple of seasons.

They started this season with a major upset against the rebuilding New England Patriots at home. They then dropped two more games before winning their first game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Bengals have played at a good level but facing other top teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens (twice), Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles have ruined their plans to have a positive record.

There are six more games to play before the end of the season, but with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos standing in the way, it’s hard to imagine the Bengals making the comeback their fans hope to see.

NBA star names major reason why Bengals could sneak into the playoffs

A day before Rob Gronkowski put Cincinnati’s hopes to rest, two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant said that the Bengals are the team with the most chances to make it to the postseason over the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts. Durant added that Joe Burrow is the reason why the Bengals can still make it.

This season will be the last one with Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase together on the field. The team knows it can compete, but something must change as soon as possible.