The Bengals hit the road west to take on the Broncos as both teams are vying for a playoff spot with four weeks left in the regular season. Cincinnati is currently in the 9th position while Denver sits in 10th in the AFC playoff picture, as both teams are third in their respective divisions.
Here are five things to know ahead of Sunday's Week 15 matchup with the Denver Broncos:
1. Sack Attack
Entering Week 15, the Bengals are tied for second in the league with 37 sacks, a major improvement from the 17 the team had all of 2020. The defense has recorded at least one sack in every game this season, and has gotten multiple sacks in 11 games including each of the last seven. The Bengals are coming off a defensive performance where they sacked Jimmy Garoppolo five times, tying the single-game high from Week 7 when the team sacked Lamar Jackson that same amount. With 5.5 sacks each, Larry Ogunjobi and B.J. Hill have already tied their single-season career-high in sacks, as Sam Hubbard is one full sack away from tying his career-high of 8.5.
The team brought in Trey Hendrickson this off-season after the fifth-year veteran posted the second-most sacks in the league last season with 13.5, hoping he'd provide that same type of production in Cincinnati. Through 13 games, Hendrickson leads the team with 12.5 sacks and is on pace to finish the regular season with 16. Hendrickson has at least one full sack in nine straight games, which is tied for the third-longest streak in NFL history.
2. T(hr)ee's Company
Tee Higgins became the first Bengal since A.J. Green to record three straight 100-yard receiving games. Green set the team record in 2013 by posting five consecutive games with 100 or more receiving yards. Over the last three games, Higgins has averaged over 18 yards per reception and has hauled in 69.7% of his targets.
Take a walk down memory lane looking at some of the best images from the Bengals versus Broncos series.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) is hit by Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Leon Hall (29) and defensive tackle Pat Sims (92) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, left, pulls in an 11-yard touchdown pass despite the effort of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams, right, during the second quarter of their football game in Denver on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Bill Ross)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) runs the ball in the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (27) reacts following an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson (32) runs in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Corey Dillon (28) pushes away Denver Broncos defender Al Wilson, left, in the first half Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd runs a route downfield against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cincinnatti Bengals receiver Cris Collingsworth leaps to snag a pass from quarterback Ken Anderson in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos in Cincinnati, Aug. 30, 1981. Bronco's cornerback Perry Smith watches the catch. (AP Photo/Jeff Hinckley)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Brandon Bennett (36) celebrates in the stands after scoring on a 19-yard run in the third quarter, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2000, against the Denver Broncos. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko (94) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Pat Sims (90) in an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco (85) is tackled by Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins (20) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Denver Broncos running back Lance Ball (35) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Thomas Howard (53) and defensive end Michael Johnson (93) in the first quarter of an NFL football game, on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry (15) tries to run by Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins (20) in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) is knocked out of bounds by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Terence Newman during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson (89) is tackled by Denver Broncos free safety Rahim Moore (26) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) is tackled by Denver Broncos defensive back Shiloh Keo (33) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko (94) reacts after recovering a fumble by the Denver Broncos in the third quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning congratulates Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vincent Rey (57) after a 37-28 win by the Bengals in an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Cincinnati Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (42) is pursued by Denver Broncos outside linebacker Wesley Woodyard in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Keating)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) celebrates his 85-yard touchdown run against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) is tackled by Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (24) and linebacker Danny Trevathan (59) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is out in coverage against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko (94) celebrates after sacking Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (5) throws against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) looks to pass under pressure from Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Margus Hunt (99) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
3. Making His Ja'Marrk
Ja'Marr Chase broke a long-standing record last Sunday, passing Isaac Curtis for most touchdown receptions by a Bengals rookie when he caught his ninth and tenth against the 49ers. Chase also surpassed 1,000-receiving yards on the season and is now just 23 yards shy of breaking Green's rookie receiving yardage record. Chase is the fifth rookie receiver in the Super Bowl era with 1,000-receiving yards and 10-receiving touchdowns in a single season. With eight more receptions, Chase will break the Bengals rookie reception of 67 shared by Cris Collinsworth and Higgins.
4. Road Runners
Cincinnati is on the road for the first time since November 21, and it's a position they've been successful in this year. The Bengals are 4-2 in road games this season, and in those four wins, the team is averaging over 32 points per game and has posted a double-digit win margin in each.
5. Rocky Mountain Low
Sunday will be the final game against the AFC North this season for Denver, as the Broncos enter the matchup against the Bengals searching for their first win against the division. Denver is 0-3 against the AFC North in 2021, as the Broncos have failed to score more than 20 points in any of those contests.
The Broncos have struggled since 2020 against teams who bring in seven or more wins, as Denver is 0-5. The Bengals will go for win number eight on Sunday, the highest win total for a season since they won 12 games in 2015.
