The 10-4 Denver Broncos host the 11-3 Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football in a game with MAJOR playoff implications. The game has an impact on the AFC West, AFC South, and AFC Wild Card races and also will go a long way in determining first-round byes in the conference. Who's got the advantage at Mile High? Here's our preview and prediction.
Game Info:
When: 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile Hight, Denver, Colorado
TV: ESPN
Spread: Broncos by 3.5
What's At Stake:
With a win, the Bengals will wrap up a first-round bye on the AFC side of the playoff bracket. If Denver wins, they'll clinch a playoff spot and remain a game up on the playoff-bound Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West title heading into Week 17.
There are a handful of other AFC teams with rooting interests in this game, but perhaps none with higher stakes than the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts. The Texans will win the AFC South if the Bengals win on Monday thanks to the NFL's sixth playoff tiebreaker (strength of schedule). Houston is one game up on Indy with one to play.
What They're Saying About The Cincinnati Bengals:
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How Dre Kirkpatrick has changed since 2014 game against Broncos
Without Tyler Eifert, where will AJ McCarron turn?
What They're Saying About The Denver Broncos:
The most-clicked Broncos articles of 2015
Cure for second-half doldrums key for Broncos' offense
Breaking down the Broncos' playoff scenarios
Key To The Game:
This is the biggest game of Bengals QB AJ McCarron's short NFL career, and it's made enough tougher with it being a prime-time road game and with star tight end Tyler Eifert out due to injury. For the Bengals to beat a playoff-hungry Broncos squad, they'll need to protect McCarron at all costs -- by running the ball effectively with Jeremy Hill/Gio Bernard, giving him short/safe throws to make in rhythm, and giving him time with solid blocking up front. If McCarron gets rattled early, the Broncos defense will smell blood and could put this one away in the first half. That's huge, considering how bad Denver's offense has been in the second half as of late.
Prediction: Bengals Win 20-17
The Bengals are due for a defining prime-time win, and the Broncos have been prone to giving away games during an uninspiring stretch. Cincy wins, putting the Texans in the playoffs while putting Denver's playoff hopes in jeopardy.