Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos Matchup Preview (12/19/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos Matchup Preview (12/19/21)

The 7-6 Cincinnati Bengals are flying to Denver, Colorado, to take on the 7-6 Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Both teams are in the hunt for a playoff spot, and a win for either team will be crucial. The Bengals are tied for second in the AFC North with the Cleveland Browns but have continued to fall back with a two-game losing streak to the Los Angeles Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers. This win is crucial if the Bengals want to stay alive for the playoffs. The Denver Broncos find themselves in third place in the AFC West, trailing the Chargers by only one win. After a win last week against the Lions, the team is fired up, ready to take on the Bengals. Denver’s weather has been nothing but perfect for Sunday football, so the two teams will have to focus on their skills, not the other team’s mistakes.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos Betting Odds

Sunday’s matchup between the Bengals and the Broncos has an opportunity for outstanding play. Both teams have beaten unexpected teams and have lost in great upset matches. The Broncos’ leg up on the competition is their defense. They are a top-five defense in the league with a particular emphasis on their passing defense. The Bengals utilize most of their plays in the air, so if the Broncos can stop Joe Burrow, they can take the win. 

DraftKings Sportsbook gives the Broncos the winning edge with a spread of -2.5 (-125) and a moneyline of -155. The Bengals were placed with a spread of +2.5 (+105) and a moneyline of +135. I believe there is great potential for an upset in this matchup with an over/under of 44.5. The Bengals have the arm of Joe Burrow and the connections with Joe Mixon that are unbeatable. They’re 6-7 against the spread and have hit the over in ¾ of their last road games. Burrow effortlessly can throw the ball downfield and result in significant gains, making it easy for the team to put up large point totals. The Broncos are 7-6 against the spread but have great difficulty hitting the over bet. Prior to their win against the Lions, they had not hit an over since mid-October. Joe Burrow and the Bengals are going to come out aggressive and looking downfield, so if the Broncos want to keep up, Teddy Bridgewater will have to ensure high point values for the team.

My Prediction: Bengals Win 31-28, Over 44.5

TV Schedule

Date: 12/19/21
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: MileHigh – Denver, CO
TV Coverage: CBS

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos Live Stream

Where can you watch Bengals vs. Broncos online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Bengals vs. Broncos Free Online Now.

Cincinnati Bengals Analysis

The Cincinnati Bengals are deep into a dry spell with a two-game losing streak following them into Week 15. The Cincinnati team needs to break their streak and lift their spirits if they want to keep their playoff chances alive. They’re tied for second in the AFC North with the Cleveland Browns and have an enormous opportunity to overtake Cleveland since almost all of the team’s starters are out with COVID. To move them forward in rank, Joe Burrow will need to help carry his team to victory against the Denver Broncos.

Joe Burrow is in his second NFL season after winning the Heisman by a landslide in 2019. He has led his team to seven victories and six losses this season with 3,483 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. With his great, young skill, he does not get a lot of mercy from his offensive line. Burrow has been sacked 41 times this season, which is the most in the league. He has been trying to improve his scrambling to avoid sacks, but defensive lines mercilessly run after him. When he is given time in the pocket, Burrow can be unstoppable. He averages 22 completions and around 278 yards per game. If his offensive line can keep the defense at bay, Burrow might be able to pull out this win.

Joe Mixon has been one of the most explosive running backs in the game this year. He ranks first in the league on attempts (245) and second in yards (1,036). The Joe to Joe connection on the Bengals has led to twelve touchdowns and long runs downfield. The Broncos have a mid-tier rush defense, so Mixon has to remain patient to find the right window to go through on the line. Once he finds his zone, he can dust defenders and put up significant points for the Bengals.

In the passing game, Burrow will probably target his top receiver, Ja’Marr Chase. Chase has 60 receptions for 1,035 yards so far this season. He is able to separate himself from defenders and has impressive routes that can juke even the best cornerbacks. Once the Broncos start over guarding the rush from Mixon, Burrow can take it to the sky to find Chase downfield.

Cincinnati Bengals Depth Chart

QB: Joe Burrow
RB1: Joe Mixon
RB2: Samaje Perine
WR1: Ja’Marr Chase
WR2: Tee Higgins
WR3: Tyler Boyd
TE1: C.J. Uzomah
TE2: Drew Sample

Denver Broncos Analysis

The Denver Broncos have 57% of their wins on their home turf. Their last win against the Detroit Lions was set at home with an end score of 38-10. The team is still recovering from the news that former teammate, Demaryius Thomas, passed away. The Broncos honored him at the start of their game by only lining up ten players so the late player could have his spot on the field. Winning that game meant a lot to the players, and they grieve for their teammate. They’re hoping to pull out another win against the Bengals in Week 15.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has pulled 2,954 passing yards so far this season. He has led his team to their seven wins and has acquired 18 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He averages 227 yards per game, which is less than Joe Burrow but has significantly fewer sacks. Bridgewater has been sacked 29 times and has been able to escape the pocket a myriad of times to prevent him from going down. Bridgewater has a better sense of mobility than the young quarterback in Cincinnati. In order to lead his team to victory this week, Bridgewater will have to trust his receivers downfield and take risky shots to keep up with the fast-paced Bengals. If the Broncos don’t keep pace, they can easily fall behind and lose this game faster than they would have thought. 

The Broncos are having some trouble with their running backs going into this matchup. The top rusher on the team Melvin Gordon III is questionable due to a thumb and hip injury. He had a very limited practice on Thursday, and there hasn’t been much talk on his status. However, the other Broncos running back, Javonte Williams, is the one fans have to worry more about. Williams sustained a knee injury last weekend. Reports from the Broncos coaching staff say that the swelling has a good chance of leaving him on the sideline for this matchup. That leaves Mike Boone the next running back in line, but he tested positive for COVID on Friday. Their last running back is the rookie, Damarea Crockett. Crockett only has three carries for seven yards this season, but the team might need him to step up and cover for his missing teammates.

Denver Broncos Depth Chart

QB: Teddy Bridgewater
RB1: Melvin Gordon III
RB2: Javonte Williams
WR1: Jerry Jeudy
WR2: Courtland Sutton
WR3: Tim Patrick
TE1: Noah Fant

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos Daily Fantasy Picks

If you have the opportunity to play Joe Mixon, there should be no hesitation to do so. He averages 18 fantasy points per game and has boomed almost half of all his games this year. When he needs to perform, he can really shine. His season-high in fantasy is 32.3 points, and he does very well against closely ranked teams. Another great opportunity can be found in Ja’Marr Chase. Chase averages 17.2 points per game and has reached a high of 34.1 points against the Baltimore Ravens. Burrow will be alternating from using these two players throughout the game and leave great windows of opportunity to score big points.