Denver Broncos face another daunting challenge this week as they head to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals, who are riding a three-game winning streak. The Broncos’ Week 17 opponent, meanwhile, is trying to overcome a tough stretch and salvage their playoff hopes.
The Bengals’ dominant win over the Cleveland Browns has raised concerns about the Broncos’ ability to contain quarterback Joe Burrow, who appears to be in top form after a strong December. Burrow boasted a 134.3 passer rating against the Browns, throwing for 252 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals’ sack leader with 13.5 on the season, will likely demand the Broncos’ attention this week. The Bengals’ offense has been sharing the wealth, with receivers Tee Higgins and Andrew Iosivas recording scores and over 50 yards receiving against Cleveland.
The Broncos are in desperate need of a boost from cornerback Riley Moss, who is expected to return after missing several weeks due to injury. However, it’s unlikely that this will be enough to overcome the Bengals’ potent offense and pass rush.
A victory for the Broncos would give them their first playoff berth since 2015, but it would require them to contain Burrow and limit Hendrickson’s impact. Anything less, and Denver may be facing a nightmare beyond Christmas.
Source: https://www.si.com/nfl/broncos/news/crucial-broncos-implications-bengals-romping-browns-win