Cincinnati moved a game clear of Denver in the race for the No.2 seed in the AFC with a 10-point victory over San Francisco on Sunday. The Bengals will look to stretch that advantage even further when they face the Broncos in a critical clash at Sports Authority Field.
Who will grab the edge in this Monday Night Football matchup? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this pivotal AFC showdown and while you’re at it, you can check out our Week 16 previews of NY Jets vs. New England and Washington vs. Philadelphia.
[sc:Football ]Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos Preview
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver
When: Monday, December 28, 8:30 PM ET
Line: Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5) at Denver Broncos (-3.5); total: 40.5 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Cincinnati Bengals (11-3)
The Cincinnati Bengals returned to winning ways Sunday with a comfortable 24-14 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. It was a fantastic win by the Bengals who made it to the postseason for a franchise-record fifth straight year.
[sc:NFL240banner ]A.J. McCarron impressed in his first career start, completing 15-of-21 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. He registered a 115.6 passer rating in this contest. McCarron became the first former Alabama player to win an NFL game as the starting quarterback since Jeff Rutledge for the New York Giants on November 15, 1987.
Also starring for the Bengals in this victory was Jeremy Hill. He carried 19 times for 31 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He will have his work cut out for him, however, against a Denver defensive line that’s allowing just 79.9 yards per game on the ground this season, the lowest in the NFL.
With Denver possessing such a top-notch rush defense, the onus is on McCarron to attack the Broncos through the air. He’s expected to target frequently Marvin Jones who had a stellar showing in the game against the 49ers. He had four receptions for 89 yards for Cincinnati. The Bengals are 11th in the NFL in passing offense, averaging 256.4 yards per game this season.
The Bengals are 7-0 ATS on the road this season.
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Betting on the Denver Broncos (10-4)
Denver’s losing woes show no sign of abating as the Broncos crashed to their second straight defeat with a gut-wrenching 34-27 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Broncos had no answer for Ben Roethlisberger who passed for 380 yards and three touchdowns. It was a disappointing defeat for the reeling Broncos who have now lost three of their last seven games.
The Broncos will look to get their season back on track when they face the Cincinnati Bengals this coming Monday. For the Broncos to end their losing rut, they will need to improve on their play on the defensive end. The Steelers ran riot against the Broncos’ vaunted defense, racking up a whopping 377 total yards. That’s quite a surprise considering the Broncos lead the league in the total defense department, conceding just 279.9 yards per game this season. They will need to be at their best against a Cincinnati offense that’s averaging 27.0 points per game this campaign, fourth-highest in the NFL.
Apart from their defense, the Broncos will also need to work on their play down the stretch. The Broncos were held scoreless by the Steelers in the second half as they let slip a commanding 17-point halftime lead. They have now failed to put points in the board in the final 30 minutes in their last three games.
A major concern for head coach Gary Kubiak heading into their clash with Cincinnati is the condition of Brock Osweiler. He bruised his left shoulder in the second quarter and wasn’t the same when he returned to the starting lineup against Pittsburgh. He completed just 7 of 26 passes for 84 yards after halftime, including the interception that set up Antonio Brown’s winning score.
Osweiler’s injury sets up the possible return of legendary quarterback Peyton Manning to the starting rotation against the Bengals. The five-time league MVP returned to practice last week for the first time in more than a month as he continues to recover from a torn plantar fascia in his left foot. Manning has struggled mightily all season, throwing nearly twice as many interceptions (17) as touchdowns (nine).
The Broncos are 3-3 ATS at home this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Denver (-3.5) edges past Cincinnati, 27-24.
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