The Bengals and the Broncos have played one another 30 times in league history, with the Broncos owning the edge with 21 wins. In the three times they met in the past three seasons, the Broncos won two of those games, with the most recent being back in September of 2016 in Cincinnati, where the Broncos walked away with a 29-17 win.
In this head to head match-up of equal 3-6 records (in 2017) the underdog is 7-1 against the spread in their last eight games and the road team is 6-1 ATS in their last seven. It is also worth noting that the Broncos are 0-5 ATS in their last five games following a straight up loss of more than 2 TDs.
The Cincinnati Bengals are a disappointment again this season. Right now it looks like the same Bengals of old. The team is inconsistent and undisciplined. Head Coach Marvin Lewis is definitely on the hot seat at this point. He has never won a playoff game. Quarterback Andy Dalton has been overrated his entire career. Earlier in the season the city was calling for his job.
Dalton and the Bengals have lost two in a row, and most recently lost to the Titans on the road, 24-20. Dalton was 20 of 35 for 265 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. The Bengals offense totaled 308 yards in last weeks loss. This week, the Bengals will need a big day from their quarterback. Look for Dalton to be sharper this week. He was 20 of 35 for 265 yards and two touchdowns in last weeks loss.
On defense, the unit is allowing 338 yards and 20 points per game this year. Not bad for a 3-6 team this year. The Bengals allowed over 400 yards of offense in last weeks loss against a sub par Titans offense. The Cincinnati secondary has been the star for the Bengals this year. They are allowing 214 yards passing this year. If the Bengals are going to get it done against the Broncos, they must take advantage of the Denver soft passing attack. If they can do that, the Bengals should get the road win.
The Denver Broncos are struggling bad right now. The team has been demolished two weeks in a row. Denver lost their most recent game, 41-16 at home against Tom Brady and the Patriots. The Offense struggled throughout the game last week. Denver gained 339 yards, but scored only 16 points. Quarterback Brock Osweiler was junk. He passed for 221 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the loss.
Osweiler will start again this week, but expect the Broncos to win the game without him trying to be a hero. Osweiler is a backup at best in the NFL. If the offense can’t pull things together head coach Vance Joseph could be replaced in Denver. Defensively, the team has not been the same. The defense formally known as the “no fly zone” has been terrible in recent weeks. Tom Brady most recently gutted the Denver defense for 266 yards and three touchdowns. This week look for the Broncos to be flat again. The team has allowed 92 points the past two weeks.
Writer’s Prediction:
The Bengals have been bad this season, and so have the Broncos. Expect a close matchup at Mile High. Andy Dalton is not the answer anywhere, but could get the Bengals in field goal range several times in this matchup. Denver will struggle, but will cover at home this week. Pick: Denver Broncos (-2.5)
