The Bengals play in their first prime-time matchup of the season when they face the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. The game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC (Cincinnati's channel 9).

Here is what to watch for:

Uno vs. Surtain

Monday night features the first-ever showdown between the reigning Triple Crown winner and the reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year, as Cincinnati's Ja’Marr Chase will line up against Denver cornerback Pat Surtain II. Last season, Chase led the NFL and set Bengals single-season records for receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17; tied team record). Surtain recorded four interceptions and 11 passes defensed, while also allowing the fewest passing yards (306) among all cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps.

The two All-Pro performers faced off in last December's thriller at Paycor Stadium, which proved to be a back-and-forth individual battle. Surtain covered Chase on 36 routes run, and on six targets he yielded three receptions for 27 yards. Chase finished the game with 102 yards on nine catches, exploiting zone coverages and matchups against other Broncos defensive backs.

"It's always good to watch Ja'Marr match up against great corners," said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor on Thursday. "If Tee (Higgins) gets matched up as well, we always expect our guys to hold their own and find a winning matchup for us. I think (Surtain) is a really elite corner in this league, and I think our guys are always up for that challenge."

Chasing Monday Night History

In addition to his matchup against Surtain, Chase's outlook on Monday night also includes several statistical benchmarks in reach. With one catch, he would move into a tie with Cris Collinsworth for the sixth-most receptions in Bengals history (417). Chase's current career total of 416 is tied with Ring of Honor member Isaac Curtis for seventh place on the team's all-time chart.

Chase has played under the lights on Monday Night Football four previous times in his career, and his numbers in those contests have been historically great. He has logged at least 115 receiving yards in each game, and hauled in at least 10 receptions in three of the four appearances.

With 100 receiving yards at Denver, Chase would become the first player in NFL history to cross the century mark in each of his first five games on Monday Night Football.

Money Mac Closing in on 100

Evan McPherson enters Monday night's contest with 97 career field goals in regular-season games. Should he get to 100 in what will be his 65th game, he would tie Horst Muhlmann as the fourth-fastest kickers in Bengals history to reach that milestone. The only Cincinnati kickers to get to 100 field goals in fewer games were Doug Pelfrey (59 games), Shayne Graham (62) and Mike Nugent (62).

McPherson, whose 82.2 career field goal percentage is the third-highest in team history, has knocked through all three of his attempts this season. He is coming off his longest kick of the year in Week 3 at Minnesota, a 45-yarder in the second quarter.

Red Zone Battle

Cincinnati's offense has been efficient inside the red zone this season, coming away with points in all eight of its possessions that have reached the opponent's 20-yard line. Six of those opportunities have resulted in touchdowns, and the Bengals' 75 percent touchdown rate in the red zone currently is tied for the fifth-highest in the NFL.

This week, the offense goes up against a Broncos defensive unit that has allowed just three touchdowns on 11 red zone possessions (27.3 percent), the second-best rate in the league. Denver has limited the other eight red zone appearances to field goal attempts.

The Bengals drove into the red zone seven times against the Broncos in their Week 17 meeting last season, which yielded four touchdowns, one made field goal, one missed field goal and a turnover on downs.

Check out the Bengals 2025 Schedule.