Denver (9-6) will face off against Cincinnati (7-8) in a matchup scheduled for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. EST, broadcasted on NFL Network. Recent odds from BetMGM indicate that the Bengals are favored by three points. When it comes to betting against the spread, the Broncos have an impressive record of 11-4, while the Bengals stand at 9-6. Historical data shows that the Broncos hold a commanding lead in their all-time series against the Bengals, winning 22 out of 33 encounters. Their most recent clash ended with the Bengals securing a tight 15-10 victory on December 19, 2021, in Denver.
Last week, the Chargers triumphed over the Broncos with a score of 34-27, while the Bengals earned a solid win against the Browns, defeating them 24-6. Evaluating the Broncos’ offensive performance reveals they rank 22nd overall, with a 19th place finish in rushing yards and 22nd in passing yards. Notably, they are ranked 10th in scoring. In contrast, the Broncos’ defense remains strong, holding the 9th spot overall, boasting 5th place in run defense and 4th in scoring defense. The Bengals, on the other hand, show a more balanced offensive ranking at 10th overall but struggle in the running game, placing 29th. Their passing attack, however, is exceptional, sitting at 1st overall in the league for passing yards and scoring 6th in points. On defense, they have room for improvement, as they are positioned 28th overall, ranking 21st in rushing and 26th in passing defense, with a scoring defense ranked 28th.
A significant detail in this matchup is the turnover differential, where the Broncos hold a plus-6 range compared to the Bengals’ plus-4. For the Broncos, cornerback Riley Moss is a player to keep an eye on. He is returning to the field after recovering from a sprained MCL, which kept him sidelined for a month. His presence is crucial for the Broncos’ defense, which struggled in his absence, as he has made notable contributions with 71 tackles, eight pass breakups, and one interception in his first season as a starter alongside Patrick Surtain. The Broncos could regain their preferred man coverage strategy, which was exploited while they employed zone coverage against their recent opponents.
As for the Bengals, quarterback Joe Burrow is having an outstanding season and is a key player to watch. Following a performance where he threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns against the Browns, Burrow is currently amongst the league’s leaders in various passing statistics. Remarkably, he has managed to throw three or more touchdown passes in each of his last seven games, solidifying his status as a top quarterback this season.
A crucial aspect of the game will be the Bengals’ passing attack facing the Broncos’ secondary. Notable receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for 14 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns during their recent game against the Browns. After Week 16, Chase leads the NFL in several categories, including receptions, yards, and touchdowns, presenting a considerable challenge to the Broncos’ secondary, which has been rated 8th in the league. Surtain’s impressive defensive performance has seen him allow just 234 receiving yards this season, marking one of the best performances for a cornerback in the past five years.
Injury reports suggest that the Broncos are in good health, with the only player who was limited in practice being running back Jaleel McLaughlin due to a thigh issue, although he completed full practices by Wednesday. On the Bengals’ side, there are several concerns as defensive end Sam Hubbard (knee) and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (illness) will definitely miss Saturday’s game. Additionally, the status of wide receiver Tee Higgins (ankle/knee), defensive tackle Amarius Mims (ankle), and safety Geno Stone (illness) remains uncertain, while tight end Tanner Hudson (knee) is doubtful for the matchup.
Historically, these teams have seen a back-and-forth pattern in their recent encounters, winning two games each over their last four meetings since 2016. The Broncos’ longest win streak against the Bengals stretched from 1983 to 1998 with eight wins. Notably, the Bengals have only claimed two consecutive victories in a row against the Broncos twice, during the early 1970s and mid-1970s. The most significant score difference occurred in 1991, when the Broncos defeated the Bengals 45-14.
In terms of player statistics, Denver quarterback Bo Nix is closing in on a milestone, needing only three touchdown passes to join an elite group of rookies in NFL history who have thrown for over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in their first seasons, a feat previously achieved by Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, Baker Mayfield, and Justin Herbert. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton is also approaching a notable personal achievement, needing just 72 yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark for the second time in his career, a milestone he reached in 2019. Moreover, the Broncos have scored a collective total of 166 points over their last five games, marking their highest output over any five-game stretch since 2014. On the defensive side, Zach Allen has made an impact with 26 quarterback hits, the highest for any interior defensive lineman this season, closely followed by his 67 quarterback pressures. Linebacker Nik Bonitto’s impressive performance includes sacks recorded in 10 games to date, just two short of breaking the Broncos’ single-season record set by Von Miller. Safety Brandon Jones has also made history by becoming the first Broncos safety since Steve Atwater in 1995 to surpass 100 tackles and three interceptions in a single season.
Cincinnati’s defense displayed strength in their victory against the Browns last week, forcing three turnovers and securing five sacks. Despite being sacked four times by the Browns, Burrow accomplished an impressive performance with three touchdown passes. The Bengals have been building momentum, winning their last three games to reach a 7-8 overall record and are aiming to achieve a .500 record in their final home game of the season. It’s also worth mentioning that all of the Bengals’ wins have been against teams currently holding losing records, with seven of their eight losses being by a single score. Kicker Cade York has stepped up in McPherson’s absence, successfully converting 4 of 5 field goal attempts since being elevated from the practice squad. Lastly, Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson has been impactful this season, recording 13.5 sacks.
For fantasy football enthusiasts, Bengals running back Chase Brown is showing signs of potential breakout performances. Following a strong showing with 91 rushing yards in the win over Cleveland and 97 yards plus a touchdown against Tennessee the week before, the second-year player has been steady, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
