The Denver Broncos (9-6) will travel to Cincinnati to take on Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Today’s game is massive for the Broncos, where if they win, they’ll be in the playoffs for the first time since the Super Bowl 50 season.
After failing to clinch a playoff spot last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, today’s game has crucial implications for the AFC Playoffs. A win puts the Broncos in and keeps the Bengals out. The stakes have never been higher.
Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals AFC Showdown
Here is the tale of the tape for Saturday’s Week 17 showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Broncos offense:
- Net Yards Per Game – 314.0 (22nd)
- Points Per Game – 24.2 (10th)
- Net Rushing Yards Per Game – 108.5 (19th)
- Net Passing Yards Per Game – 205.5 (23rd)
- Sacks Allowed – 22 (3rd)
- Third Down Conversion Percentage – 37.8 (19th)
- Red Zone Conversion Percentage – 61.2% (8th)
- Top Offensive Players: Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton, Devaughn Vele
- Leading Rusher: Javonte Williams (485 rushing yards)
- Leading Receiver: Courtland Sutton (928 receiving yards, six touchdowns)
Bengals Defense:
- Net Yards Allowed Per Game – 359.9 (28th)
- Points Per Game Allowed – 26.2 (14th)
- Net Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game – 128.3 (21st)
- Net Passing Yards Allowed Per Game – 231.6 (26th)
- Sacks – 30 (27th)
- Third Down Conversion Percentage – 43.2% (26th)
- Red Zone Conversion Percentage – 67.4% (31st)
- Top Defensive Players: Trey Hendrickson, Geno Stone, Cam Taylor-Britt
- Leading Sack Producer: Trey Hendrickson (13.5 sacks)
- Leading Tackler: Germaine Pratt (130)
- Interception Leader: Geno Stone (four)
Broncos Defense:
- Net Yards Allowed Per Game – 319.6 (8th)
- Points Per Game Allowed – 18.7 (3rd)
- Net Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game – 99.8 (5th)
- Net Passing Yards Allowed Per Game – 219.8 (18th)
- Sacks – 51 (1st)
- Third Down Conversion Percentage – 37.4% (12th)
- Red Zone Conversion Percentage – 45.2% (2nd)
- Top Defensive Players: Patrick Surtain II, Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen
- Leading Sack Producer: Nik Bonitto (11.5)
- Leading Tackler: Brandon Jones (101)
- Interception Leader: Patrick Surtain II (4)
Bengals Offense:
- Net Yards Per Game – 360.1 (10th)
- Points Per Game – 28.2 (6th)
- Net Rushing Yards Per Game – 92.7 (27th)
- Net Passing Yards Per Game – 267.3 (1st)
- Sacks Allowed – 37 (T-18th)
- Third Down Conversion Percentage – 46.8% (4th)
- Red Zone Conversion Percentage – 68.0 (3rd)
- Top Offensive Players: Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins
- Leading Rusher: Chase Brown (923 rushing yards, seven touchdowns)
- Leading Receiver: Ja’Marr Chase (1510 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns)
Notable Injuries for Saturday’s game
Denver Broncos:
- Running back Tyler Badie has been ruled out as a healthy scratch.
Cincinnati Bengals:
- Defensive end Sam Hubbard is out with a knee injury.
- Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is out due to illness.
- Wide receiver Tee Higgins is questionable with a ankle and knee injury.
- Safety Geno Stone is questionable with an illness.
- Tight end Tanner Hudson is doubtful with a knee injury.
Biggest key for the Denver Broncos – Control the narrative
It’s quite simple. Win and you’re in. The national media has been spewing the narrative all week long that the Bengals are a more appealing postseason team. Their offense has played incredibly this season, while their defense has been their issue, but the Broncos are also a team that deserves to be in the postseason.
The narrative has been that Denver’s nine wins are against nobody. They’ve beaten nine teams on their schedule, and that’s all that matters. Denver has shown that they are a fun team to watch. Today’s game is a chance to control the narrative on offense and defense by becoming road warriors.
Matchup to watch for – PS2 vs. Ja’Marr Chase
With the return of Riley Moss opposite of him, Patrick Surtain II should hopefully travel around with Ja’Marr Chase quite a bit on Saturday. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph hasn’t had as aggressive of an approach since Moss’s injury, and he hasn’t moved Surtain around as much as he previously has.
Chase is lighting up the NFL this season and has been Joe Burrow’s go-to guy with several 200-yard receiving performances on the season. If Surtain slows down or limits Chase on Saturday, it very well could lock up Surtain’s bid for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. This is what primetime matchups were meant for. The best corner in the game against the best receiver in the game.
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. MT on the NFL Network.