The Bengals will look to get back into the win column in Week 4, as they travel to Denver to take on the Broncos on Monday Night Football.
Denver sits at 1-2 on the year: The Broncos beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 and lost two close games to the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers in Weeks 2 and 3.
Broncos Offense
Second-year signal caller Bo Nix leads the Broncos offense.
Nix's six turnover-worthy throws are tied for the fourth most in the NFL, per PFF. However, his five passing touchdowns rank in the top 10 in the league, and he's completed two 40+ yard passes, tied for the second most in the NFL.
Former Ravens and Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins has dominated the touches in the backfield, carrying the ball 41 times in three games. For comparison, rookie RJ Harvey has 13 carries. Dobbins averaged 5.4 yards per carry in the first three games and has found the end zone three times. The third-round pick Harvey has averaged 6.2 yards per carry, the third-highest rate among backs with at least 10 touches.
WR Courtland Sutton has the third-highest PFF offensive grade on the Broncos (71.1). Sutton leads the team with 21 targets, 185 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, while WR Troy Franklin leads in receptions with 14. TE Evan Engram, signed in the offseason from the Jaguars, missed Week 3 with a back injury.
The Denver offensive line boasts the highest PFF pass-block grade in the league (79.3), and PFF has them credited with just 20 total pressures allowed through the first three weeks. Left tackle Garrett Bolles has a 90.0 pass-block grade, the highest of any offensive linemen in the NFL over the first three weeks. The 2017 first-round pick from Utah has allowed two pressures in three games, tied for the fourth fewest among tackles with at least 100 pass-block snaps.
Broncos Defense
Denver's defense served as its calling card in 2024, allowing the third-fewest points per game (18.3) and the seventh-fewest yards per game (317.1). So far in 2025, the Broncos have allowed 22.0 points per game, good for 16th in the league, and are tied with the Bengals and Los Angeles Rams for the 10th-most takeaways (four).
The production starts up front, as Denver has posted the seventh-highest PFF pass-rush grade so far this season (75.4) and has 87 total pressures. The unit, headlined by edge rusher Nik Bonitto, is tied with the Rams for the most sacks through three weeks with 12. Bonitto has added three on his own, ranking in the top 10, and is 1.5 off the league leader Rashan Gary. On the other side, edge rusher Jonathon Cooper is right behind Bonitto with 16 pressures (Bonitto has 17). Both players rank in the top five of total pressures. The pass-rush group also added former 49er Dre Greenlaw in the offseason, but Greenlaw has yet to play this season with a quad injury.
Denver has allowed the 12th-most rushing yards per game so far in 2025 and gave up 165 yards to Colts RB Jonathan Taylor in Week 2. It also has 21 missed tackles in run defense over the first three weeks, including nine in last week's loss to the Chargers, per PFF.
The secondary is anchored by 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II. Surtain has been targeted 15 times in the first three weeks and allowed 10 receptions after allowing 40 all of last season. When the Broncos came to Paycor Stadium last season in a Week 17 overtime thriller, Surtain held WR Ja’Marr Chase to three receptions for 27 yards on six targets.
In that same game, CB Riley Moss struggled to contain WR Tee Higgins, allowing seven receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns while covering the wideout, who scored three touchdowns in the win. The team drafted Texas CB Jahdae Barron in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but Moss has taken the majority of snaps early in the year, playing 133 coverage snaps to Barron's 35.
View the best photos from Bengals-Broncos matchups of years past
QB Joe Burrow celebrates a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, December 28, 2024
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 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)
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)
Denver Broncos outside linebacker Stephen Weatherly (91) against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec 19, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
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)
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)
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)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) dives to grab a fumble against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
WR Tee Higgins scores a second-quarter touchdown against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, December 28, 2024.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker (87) comes down inside the end zone for a touchdown as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Nate Clements (22) defends in the third quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
RB Chase Brown hurdles a defender against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, December 28, 2024.
The Denver Broncos line up on the line of scrimmage against the Cincinnati during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (27) runs back an interception in the end zone as Denver Broncos tight end Virgil Green (85) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) against the Cincinnati Bengals in an NFL pre season football game , Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) scores a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) comes down with a catch for a touchdown against Denver Broncos cornerback Andre Goodman (21) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
WR Tee Higgins scores a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, December 28, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals safety Dexter Jackson, left, is pushed out of bounds by Denver Broncos center Tom Nalen after Jackson intercepted a pass during the first quarter of their football game in Denver on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
WR Tee Higgins catches a deep ball on the sideline in overtime against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, December 28, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (9) passes in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Bryan Robinson walks off the field following a 23-24 loss to the Denver Broncos during a football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Check out the Bengals 2025 Schedule.
