Recreation Preview: Broncos look to earn key win in 'Monday Night time Soccer' matchup vs. Bengals – Denver Broncos

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DENVER — For the primary time this season, the Broncos are set to play beneath the lights of prime time.
The Broncos (1-2) will look to get again to .500 and prolong a six-game dwelling successful streak as they face the Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) on “Monday Night time Soccer” of their first dwelling recreation since Week 1.
Denver, which has gained six consecutive dwelling video games by a mean of 19.8 factors per recreation, will look to answer back-to-back losses and shut out a victory.
“We have performed actually good groups, and we have led till the literal final play,” quarterback Bo Nix stated Thursday. “Generally that is how the ball bounces. You simply acquired to just be sure you’re doing what you are speculated to do to not solely make your staff higher, however to develop as your self. Finally, we’re simply right here to win soccer video games. You’ll be able to throw every part out the window; all that issues is the tip of the sport. Did you win or did you lose? How do you not lose the subsequent time? So, that is what we’re centered on this week … simply discovering a win.”
The Broncos gained their solely dwelling prime-time recreation of the season final 12 months, they usually’ll look to maintain that spark as they welcome the Bengals for a crucial AFC assembly.
Listed here are the questions that can decide if Denver can earn a key win:
CAN DENVER WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE?
The Broncos gained the takeaway battle for the primary time this season in Week 3, and Head Coach Sean Payton Payton stated Monday that Denver’s plus-two margin helped preserve the staff within the recreation. Towards the Bengals, the Broncos will once more emphasize gaining the sting in that class.
“That has to proceed: the ball safety and taking it away,” Payton stated Wednesday. “Once we did {that a} 12 months in the past, it was dramatic. We would like that pattern to proceed.”
The Broncos gained the turnover margin in eight video games in 2024 and earned a 7-1 file in these contests. When Denver misplaced the turnover battle — which occurred 4 occasions — the staff didn’t discover a option to earn a win final 12 months.
In 2025, the Broncos have turned the ball over as soon as within the final two weeks after 4 turnovers in Week 1, and the Denver offense prevented a turnover in opposition to the Chargers. Denver’s protection, in the meantime, recorded its first interception of the season in Week 3, and Jonah Elliss pressured a turnover on particular groups.
Towards the Bengals, the Broncos will purpose to proceed their success. Cincinnati turned the ball over 5 occasions in Week 3, and a pair of these turnovers have been returned for touchdowns. Along with two Jake Browning interceptions, the Bengals additionally misplaced fumbles on three consecutive possessions to finish the primary half. These turnovers helped the Vikings flip a 17-3 lead with two minutes to play within the first half right into a 34-3 halftime benefit.
Browning additionally threw three interceptions as he got here off the bench in Week 2 in opposition to Jacksonville, and the Bengals’ eight giveaways have been essentially the most within the NFL coming into this weekend’s slate. The Bengals have recorded 4 takeaways by means of three weeks — tied with Denver for the tenth most within the league — however didn’t have one within the loss to Minnesota. In all, Cincinnati’s minus-4 turnover margin ranks twenty eighth within the league.
If Denver can proceed its momentum its the turnover margin, it may assist spur a Monday night time win.
WILL THE BRONCOS CUT DOWN ON PENALTIES?
In all three phases, the Broncos will look to play cleaner in opposition to the Bengals.
Denver accrued 10 penalties for 90 yards in a decent Week 3 loss to the Chargers, and a number of other of them performed a defining position within the consequence.
An offsides penalty on a punt gave LA a recent set of downs within the first quarter and flipped the sphere place. Three defensive penalties on a third-quarter Chargers drive helped Los Angeles tack on a discipline objective. An offensive go interference name close to the objective line pressured Denver to accept a discipline objective late within the recreation as an alternative of taking a two-score lead. And a late pointless roughness penalty aided the Chargers’ tying landing drive.
“We’re excessive in that class, three weeks in [albeit], however nonetheless nonetheless, defensively, offensively, [we are] close to the again of the league in penalties,” Payton stated of the penalties. “Particular groups, we have been clear. I believe we’re fifth. What are the issues that put you behind? What retains you from being inefficient on first and second down? That is one thing that there is in all probability a handful of causes.”
Offensively, the Broncos will purpose to keep away from penalties — and enhance their general first- and second-down effectivity — to create extra manageable third-down situations. Towards Los Angeles, the Broncos confronted 10 third downs of at the least eight yards — and eight of these required the Broncos to achieve at the least 10 yards. Solely three of Denver’s third downs have been third-and-5 or shorter — and the Broncos transformed two of the three probabilities.
On the opposite aspect of the soccer, Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph emphasised an identical focus as Denver’s protection appears to be like to enhance in huge moments.
“I believe a part of us ending is taking part in a cleaner model of soccer for 4 quarters, and a few of these video games would not even come all the way down to that,” Joseph stated. “However once they do, we’ve to clearly make the performs to win the video games. That is been the dialog. But it surely’s extra in regards to the huge image, about taking part in a cleaner and smarter model of soccer for 4 quarters vs. ready for the final collection of the sport to make our performs.”
The Broncos have proven flashes of spectacular play on either side of the ball by means of three weeks, and lowering the penalties may assist Denver maximize these moments and earn a win vs. the Bengals.
CAN PAT SURTAIN II SLOW DOWN JA’MARR CHASE?
We may see historical past on Monday night time, as Surtain and Chase would develop into the primary reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr and receiving triple crown winner to face off. A 12 months in the past, Surtain earned the award by recording 4 interceptions and 11 go breakups, whereas Chase caught 127 passes for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Of their Week 17 assembly in Cincinnati, Surtain held Chase in test, allowed simply three receptions on six targets throughout 36 routes run. Chase recorded 27 yards on these catches, averaging simply 0.8 yards per route. When coated by every other defender, Chase caught six passes on 9 targets for 75 yards.
Chase led the Bengals with 50 receiving yards in Week 3, and Jake Browning focused Chase greater than every other participant. If Surtain can restrict the Bengals’ high receiver and pressure Browning to look elsewhere, it may assist Denver’s protection.
If Browning — who has recorded a 67.1 passer score in 2025 — has to carry the ball for an additional second, it may permit Denver’s go rush to get dwelling. The Broncos lead the NFL in sacks and quarterback hits by means of three weeks, they usually’ll purpose to get to Browning after he is been sacked 4 occasions in a bit of greater than six quarters of labor.
Nonetheless, with Tee Higgins and Mike Gesicki within the combine along with Chase, the Bengals may current a problem.
“Clearly, Joe [Burrow] isn’t there this 12 months, however the staff’s not totally different so far as the talent folks,” Joseph stated. “They’ve nice talent. They’ve two receivers which might be high 10 or 12 within the league. … That problem continues to be there. The man that is taking part in for them, he has performed in NFL video games. He is a veteran participant. He can function at a excessive degree. He is not Joe Burrow, however the offense continues to be intact. These talent guys who could make explosive performs are nonetheless intact. Our focus is to maintain the explosive gamers from hurting us.”
Mims, who was listed with a hip damage, didn’t seem on the damage report on Thursday or Friday.
The best way to watch, hearken to and reside stream the Broncos’ Week 4 matchup in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025.
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Franklin-Myers has appeared in all three video games this season, recording 4 tackles, a deal with for loss, two quarterback hits and a sack.
For the second time this season, a Bronco has earned NFLPA Neighborhood MVP honors.
Courting again to 2024, the Broncos have gained six consecutive dwelling video games, which is their longest such streak since successful 11 consecutive dwelling video games from 2014-15.
Defensive finish John Franklin-Myers (hip) was a restricted participant on Thursday.
Denver additionally signed defensive again A.J. Woods to the observe squad.
The Broncos final noticed considered one of their alumni inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame as a Fashionable-Period nominee in 2023.
The Broncos are breaking out an alternate uniform for a prime-time assembly with the Bengals.
“At present was an enormous thumbs-pointing-in sort of day,” Meinerz stated. “And understanding that everyone in each single room must get higher, and we’ll try this collectively.”
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