The Cincinnati Bengals get one last homestand and chance to prove they can beat quality opponents when they host the Denver Broncos in Week 17.
There, the Bengals can keep razor thin playoff hopes alive while still hoping for Colts and Dolphins losses, too.
No easy task, though. Those Broncos are 9-6 and winners in four of their last five. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix looks the part of a long-term starter, completing 64.3 percent of his passes with 22 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.
A stingy Broncos defense is headed up by elite cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who back in 2021, held Ja’Marr Chase to one catch for three yards in a Bengals win.
This current version of the Bengals doesn’t appear Super Bowl-bound, though — each of their seven victories this year have come against teams currently sitting with a .500 record or worse, and most have come against backup passers.
Blame a faulty defense, which has only just recently started to improve because coordinator Lou Anarumo simplified things for the players. Even that is a stretch though — playing bad quarterbacks for Dallas, Tennessee and Cleveland teams tends to make defenses look good.
There is no fluke accusation to throw at the offense, at least. Joe Burrow is an MVP-level threat, completing 68.9 percent of his passes with 39 touchdowns against eight interceptions, never mind the best pocket navigation and play extension ability in the pros today.
Chase is a Triple Crown threat, too, already sitting on 108 catches for 1,510 yards and 16 touchdowns. Tee Higgins will apparently play through his injuries, which should space the field for him to have another nice day.
Burrow’s line is getting back to full strength, too. Against the NFL-leading sack defense (51), left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. will return and rookie right tackle Amarius Mims will play through a broken hand.
When looking at a matchup this close, it often simply comes down to the quarterbacks. And while they might not make the playoffs, picking against Burrow right now is foolish.
Prediction: Bengals 30, Broncos 27
