The Cincinnati Bengals essentially have been in must-win situations the last seven weeks, but that will not be the case heading into the season finale against the Baltimore Ravens.

Cincinnati clinched a playoff berth with Sunday’s win at Pittsburgh, and victories by Indianapolis and Baltimore locked the Bengals in as the No. 6 seed, leaving them with little to play for against the Ravens.

“The only thing that is at stake is you go out and play to win the game every time,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said.

When it was pointed out that he has taken the opposite approach in past playoff seasons, Lewis responded: “How’d that work out for us?”

In 2005 when the Bengals had nothing to play for in the finale at Kansas City, Lewis rested his starters and got blown out 37-3. The following week in the playoff opener at home, they lost to Pittsburgh 31-17 in the infamous Carson Palmer/Kimo von Oelhoffen game.

In 2009 Lewis took the same approach against a New York Jets team the Bengals were going to turn around and face in a first-round game at home. They lost the season finale in New York 37-0 and then dropped the playoff game 24-14.

“It’s a different team, different group, different people, playing different teams, different situations, different circumstances,” Lewis said. “We are going to play to win the football game.”

Defensive tackle Domata Peko said he knows he doesn’t have a say in the decision, but he cast a vote anyway.

“I don’t want to not play and get rusty or whatnot,” he said. “We should just keep playing is what I think. Go out there and keep getting better. Each game is a chance to get better, especially against Baltimore.”

The 2009 situation could repeat itself with the Bengals turning around and playing the Ravens in the playoffs one week after facing them in the regular season finale.

But Cincinnati likely won’t know who its first-round opponent is until after Sunday’s game at Paul Brown Stadium is finished because Houston, New England, Denver and Baltimore all could end up as the No. 3 seed.

The only thing that is certain is the Bengals will be on the road, where they are 6-2 this season — tying the franchise record for most road wins in a season. They are 11-5 away from PBS the last two years.

Here is a look at the various scenarios that would send the Bengals to each city:

New England

The Patriots would be the No. 3 seed if the season ended today. New England would remain in that spot with a win or tie vs. Miami or a Baltimore loss or tie against the Bengals. However, if the Patriots beat Miami and either Houston (vs. Indianapolis) or Denver (vs. Kansas City) loses, New England would have a shot at the No. 1 or No. 2 seed based on various tiebreakers that wouldn’t be decided until the completion of this week’s games.

Houston

The Texans will be the No. 3 seed and set up a 2011 first-round rematch against the Bengals with a loss at Indianapolis combined with a win or tie by Denver (vs. Kansas City) and a New England win ( vs. Miami).

Denver

The Broncos will be the No. 3 seed with a loss to Kansas City coupled with a New England win vs. Miami.

Baltimore

The Ravens will be the No. 3 seed if they beat the Bengals this week and New England loses to Miami.