Alex Smith has always been one of those guys who was not afraid to speak his mind. He’s earned a reputation for his cool, collected play throughout the years, on and off the field. With more than 15 NFL seasons under his belt, stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, Smith had established himself as a veteran, mentor and, let’s face it, a play-doh-man. But if it was the playoffs, especially this year with the Bengals in the postseason race, Alex Smith was ready to deliver some more serious advice that rang a little bit more.

The Chiefs and Broncos are waiting in anticipation, with the Bengals’ playoff hopes in tatters. Sure, Cincinnati lost to the Steelers by a tiny margin, but come on, Bengals, not ready for a victory parade yet. It’s more like asking for a miracle now. So while Burrow and his staff wait impatiently for Kansas City to step up, maybe they needed some encouragement from the big boys, Alex Smith included. But did they get that? Oh, no. Instead, they received something that likely was more painful than a fourth-quarter sack.

And it’s this: “Nobody in the AFC wants to the Bengals in (the playoffs).” Yup, Alex Smith smothers in eight words anything that implies Cincinnati can walk into the postseason. Ouch. And you’d think a 15-year veteran like that would say more, um, to his old team’s likely playoff candidates, but no, Smith’s words were enough to signal that Burrow has skill, but the Bengals have yet to wow anyone. The message? Don’t fantasize about the playoffs, start playing like you belong there first. Hmm, tough love, but someone’s gotta put up with it.

And Burrow’s been out here, cool and composed as ever, expecting some support from the Chiefs. The Chiefs already secured the AFC’s best seed, but now that Kansas City is coming up against the Broncos in Week 18, Burrow’s secretly begging Reid to just be a big-money man and start his starters. The Bengals have their sights set on a Broncos loss, but only with a caveat: Kansas City might be able to get some starters rested. Burrow, ever the strategist, doesn’t need a reason. Instead, he’s telling Andy Reid, “I don’t know how many guys are playing for them—hopefully some—but we’ll see” That’s a terse cry, but one made out of a certain hopelessness, since the Bengals’ fate will hinge both on themselves and on Reid’s handshake.

Behind the Bengals’ desperate plea for help

The Bengals playoff push is on a cliff-edge, and how better to fuel an underdog narrative than to ask the rest of the league to do your dirty work? And that’s where Cincinnati is sitting today, looking up at the AFC East and praying to God. Even with their win over the Steelers, their postseason fate is not entirely theirs, and so the Bengals playoff dreams become more of a star-wish for the Bengals fans. They want the Chiefs to beat the Broncos, period. But the flipside is Kansas City already holds the top seed in the AFC and Reid might very well choose to bench key players, so Burrow and the Bengals have to just hope.

Burrow’s kind request that Reid start his starters isn’t really a hard-hitting plan, though—more like a Hail Mary, the kind you shout when you have your back to the wall. But come on: even if Burrow is as a cool QB as they come, that’s not enough to convince people. Reid isn’t worried about being a derailer for the Bengals’ dim prospects, just lining up for another Super Bowl run. That is why Burrow’s plea is a good idea, but also a long shot. It’s the stuff you try when all else fails.

Alex Smith’s frank analysis is exactly the sort of reality-check that the Bengals needed. There is no questioning Burrow’s abilities and talent, but as Smith remarked: you can’t skate straight into the postseason and hope you make a splash (if your squad has been off-key this season). The Bengals have the pieces, but without steady production over the long term they’re never going to be postseason-bound. Smith’s eight words, so brutal, could be the Bengals’ own indictment: no longer bet on the outside and start mastering the inside. And that is because it isn’t enough to turn up for the NFL.

Bottom line: the Bengals’ playoff hopes are at stake, and Alex Smith’s real-life message hurts, but it’s true. Joe Burrow’s courtesy letter to Andy Reid tells the Bengals just how much their fate rests on the shoulders of others, but as we’ve heard time and again, the NFL is a game of luck. Burrow and the Bengals might not need it as much, but if they want to be real playoff contenders, first they’ll have to prove it on the field.