Football is a game of patterns, until the Denver Broncos vs Cincinnati Bengals get on the same field. Then, the script usually goes out the window. Whether it’s a random Monday night in September or a late-December scrap with playoff lives on the line, these two franchises have a habit of producing some of the most bizarre, "did that really just happen?" moments in NFL history.
Honestly, if you looked at the 2025 season meeting, you saw more of the same. The Broncos basically dismantled the Bengals 28-3 on Monday Night Football this past September. It was a statement game for Bo Nix, but for Cincinnati, it was a grim reminder of how much life sucks without Joe Burrow. But to understand why this matchup feels so heavy every time it pops up on the schedule, you have to look past the box scores.
The Night the Bengals Offense Just... Vanished
Let’s talk about that September 29, 2025, game at Empower Field at Mile High. On paper, it was supposed to be a tight one. Instead, the Broncos' defense, led by a relentless pass rush and Patrick Surtain II, turned the lights out on Cincinnati.
Jake Browning was under center for the Bengals because Burrow was sidelined with that late-summer toe surgery. It wasn’t pretty. After an opening field goal by Evan McPherson, the Bengals never crossed midfield again. Not once. They punted eight times in a row. It was the kind of dominant defensive performance that makes you wonder if Sean Payton has finally found the "Orange Crush" DNA again.
Bo Nix wasn't perfect—he threw an ugly pick in the end zone—but he still put up 326 yards and two scores. More importantly, J.K. Dobbins looked like his old self, carving through the Bengals' front for over 100 yards. It’s funny how a single game can change a season’s narrative. Before that night, Denver was on a two-game skid. After it? They looked like AFC contenders.
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Why the Denver Broncos vs Cincinnati Bengals History is Actually Hilarious
If you’ve been watching the NFL for more than five minutes, you probably remember "The Miracle at the Meadowlands" or "The Music City Miracle." But Broncos and Bengals fans have "The Stokley Miracle."
Back in 2009, Denver was down 7-6 with less than 30 seconds left. Kyle Orton (remember him?) threw a prayer down the sideline. The ball was batted into the air by a Bengals defender—right into the hands of Brandon Stokley. He didn't just catch it; he took it 87 yards for the win while the Bengals' secondary stood there looking like they’d seen a ghost. Gus Johnson’s commentary on that play is still the gold standard for pure, unadulterated sports chaos.
A History of Spoiler Alerts
Cincinnati has this weird knack for ruining Denver's life when it matters most. Look at these years:
- 2000: Corey Dillon ran for a then-NFL record 278 yards against Denver. The Broncos had a top-tier run defense, and he basically turned them into traffic cones.
- 2014: Peyton Manning threw four interceptions in a rainy Monday night game in Cincy. It cost Denver a first-round bye and arguably changed their entire playoff trajectory.
- 2024: Just last season, the Bengals pulled off an overtime thriller that kept Denver’s seeding in limbo until the final week.
It’s not a traditional "rivalry" like Broncos-Raiders or Bengals-Ravens. It’s more of a recurring nightmare for whichever team happens to be favored that week.
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Breaking Down the 2026 Outlook
Looking ahead, the dynamics are shifting. Denver has fully committed to the Bo Nix era, and as we saw in the 2025 campaign, he’s maturing. He ended the regular season with nearly 4,000 yards and a 14-3 record. That’s not "rookie luck" anymore. That’s a franchise quarterback finding his rhythm in a Sean Payton system that finally has the right pieces.
The Bengals, meanwhile, are at a crossroads. When Joe Burrow is healthy, they are arguably the best team in the AFC. When he isn't? The drop-off is staggering. Their defense ranked near the bottom of the league in 2025, specifically struggling to stop the run. If you’re a Denver fan, you’re licking your chops at that matchup every single time J.K. Dobbins or RJ Harvey is healthy.
Key Matchup: Surtain II vs. Chase
This is the heavyweight fight everyone pays to see. In the last meeting, Pat Surtain II allowed exactly one reception to Ja'Marr Chase. One. In man-to-man coverage, Chase didn't catch a single ball. It’s rare to see a receiver of Chase’s caliber get completely erased, but Surtain is currently playing at a level that feels like he’s glitching the game.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Game
People tend to look at the Denver Broncos vs Cincinnati Bengals as a "transition" game—something to get through before a divisional rival comes to town. That’s a mistake.
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Because Denver plays at such a high altitude, Cincinnati’s fast-paced, "no-huddle" style often gasps for air in the fourth quarter. Conversely, when Denver travels to the humidity of Ohio in late fall, the ball gets slick, and the turnovers start piling up. It’s a matchup of environmental extremes as much as it is a matchup of X’s and O’s.
Also, don't sleep on the special teams. Between Wil Lutz and Evan McPherson, you have two of the most reliable legs in the league. In a series that has seen five games decided by three points or fewer since 2011, a 50-yarder in the wind is usually the difference between a win and a long flight home.
Future Stakes and Actionable Insights
If you’re tracking these teams for the 2026 season, keep an eye on the injury reports three weeks out. This isn't just "coach speak." Both teams have struggled with depth in the trenches lately.
For Bengals fans, the priority is clearly the offensive line. They can't keep letting Burrow (or Browning) take 5+ sacks a game and expect to win in Denver. For Broncos fans, it’s all about whether Nix can handle the "spoiler" pressure. He’s shown he can win the games he's supposed to win—now he has to do it when the Bengals are healthy and hungry.
Your Next Steps for Following the Rivalry:
- Watch the Trenches: Check the status of Orlando Brown Jr. and Quinn Meinerz before the next kickoff. If Denver’s interior line is healthy, they will run for 150+ yards against Cincy's current defensive front.
- Monitor the Altitude Factor: If the game is in Denver, look at how many snaps the Bengals' receivers play in the first half. If they're rotating heavily early, they’re trying to save gas for the fourth quarter.
- Bet on the Weird: If the spread is more than 7 points, be careful. This series loves to stay close, often ending in a way that makes zero sense based on the first three quarters of play.
The 2025 blowout might have felt like a changing of the guard, but history says the Bengals will find a way to make the next one weird. They always do.