12-23-2015, 04:24 PM
Cincinnati Bengals (11-3) vs. Denver Broncos (10-4)
Monday, December 28, 8:30 PM on ESPN
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Announce Crew: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
![[Image: cin_den.jpg]](http://www.maxdenver.com/maxdenver/images/2011/cin_den.jpg)
NFL.com Video Preview
First Look: Bengals vs. Broncos
by Jim Owczarski
The first look at the Monday Night Football game featuring the 11-3 Cincinnati Bengals and the 10-4 Denver Broncos at 8:30 p.m. at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
The Cincinnati Bengals clinched their fifth consecutive berth in the postseason with a 24-14 victory on the road in San Francisco. Backup quarterback AJ McCarron was effective but not spectacular, and the defense forced three turnovers to set the Bengals up to earn the No. 2 seed in the AFC with a win in Denver.
Denver raced out to a 27-13 halftime lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, but then gave up 21 unanswered points to lose 34-27 and fall dangerously close to not only losing the No. 2 seed in the AFC, but losing their grip on the AFC West. The Broncos have now lost two straight after starting 3-0 with Brock Osweiler as the full-time starter at quarterback.
The Broncos are still the No. 1 defense in the NFL, allowing just 279.9 total yards per game. They are also No. 1 against both the run (79.9) and the pass (200.0). Ben Roethlisberger threw for over 300 yards last week, but the Broncos haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since week 10 and have allowed just 50 yards on the ground combined in the last two weeks.
