DENVER — Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos lastly justified their head coach’s speaking them up all low season.
Nix threw for 2 touchdowns and ran for one more to atone for his finish zone interception and the Broncos snapped a two-game skid by sending the Cincinnati Bengals to their second straight blowout loss, 28-3 Monday evening.
The Bengals (2-2) by no means crossed midfield after an opening-drive discipline aim for a 3-0 lead as Denver’s defence restricted Cincinnati to a mere 159 yards of offence — to the Broncos’ 512 — and two third-down conversions all evening.
With 101 yards on 16 carries, J.Ok. Dobbins recorded Denver’s first 100-yard speeding sport since Latavius Murray did it in opposition to the Chargers within the 2022 season finale, a span of 38 video games, together with the playoffs.
“No one can cease us if we maintain doing what we did tonight,” Dobbins stated.
Nix threw for 326 yards and the Broncos piled up 29 first downs to Cincinnati’s 9.
“We confirmed that we’re a troublesome crew,” Dobbins stated. “And we might be even harder.”
The Bengals (2-2) misplaced their second straight sport behind backup quarterback Jake Browning, who’s filling in with star Joe Burrow recovering from toe surgical procedure. They had been coming off their greatest blowout of their historical past, a 48-10 drubbing at Minnesota, and this one wasn’t a lot better.
“The final two weeks simply looks like by no means actually had momentum,” Browning stated, “haven’t actually been explosive, have one or two good performs after which after which we’ll get into the first-and-20. And you then’re combating a tough battle with one arm behind your again when you find yourself in longer conditions, second-and-long, first-and-long, resulting in third-and-long. Good offenses don’t try this, so we have to clear it up.”
The Broncos (2-2) nonetheless have not trailed within the fourth quarter and for the primary time for the reason that opener, the result wasn’t selected a walk-off discipline aim as time expired.
Cincinnati went up 3-0 on Evan McPherson’s quick discipline aim, however then gained simply two first downs the remainder of the primary half and dedicated eight penalties, the franchise’s most earlier than halftime in a minimum of 15 years.
The Bengals punted on all eight possessions after their opening discipline aim, save for a kneel-down at halftime when the Broncos led 21-3.
One other flag negated the Bengals’ greatest play when PJ Jules snatched the ball from punt returner Marvin Mims Jr. on the Denver 15-yard line after a bobble. However as a result of Mims had waved for a good catch, the decision was interference and Denver maintained possession.
After a three-and-out to start out the sport, throughout which Nix burned a timeout, the Broncos grabbed management with three landing drives. Nix ran it in from six yards out, Mims scored on a 16-yard end-around and Courtland Sutton hauled in a 20-yard scoring move on the drive following Nix’s finish zone interception.
“When you get into any bother, simply discover me,” stated Sutton, whose TD got here with eight seconds left within the first half.
Denver’s solely main blemish was Nix throwing the ball proper to linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. on fouth-and-one from the Bengals two.
Nix’s second landing throw went to rookie RJ Harvey, a 12-yarder within the fourth quarter. Harvey ran for 58 yards to go along with his 40 receiving yards.
Browning threw for simply 125 yards on 14-of-25 passing and his huge targets had a quiet evening — Tee Higgins had 32 yards on three receptions and Ja’Marr Chase managed simply 23 yards on 5 catches.
“The sport plan was Patrick Surtain,” Denver defensive again Ja’Quan McMillian stated.
“General, the entire efficiency on offense was very poor and we left our defence out to dry. Loads,” Browning stated. “On offence we’re all a part of the issue and all of us have to be part of the answer.”
The Broncos nonetheless have loads to wash up themselves, however this was their greatest sport up to now, particularly on offense.
“It definitely was a step in the fitting course,” coach Sean Payton stated. “I might say there have been quite a lot of issues that we had been in a position to do tonight that hopefully we are able to carry over. Now we modify shortly to a crew that simply received the Tremendous Bowl.”
Among the many bundle of flags had been 4 on Broncos heart Luke Wattenberg. The Broncos had seven accepted penalties for 72 yards and the Bengals had 11 accepted flags for 65 yards.
“It’s a lack of self-discipline,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor stated. “Pre-snap penalties, as a complete it’s not adequate. We’re a crew that shouldn’t be having that downside. We have now to get it corrected. We are able to’t simply hand the opposite crew 5 yards and put us behind the eight ball, particularly coping with a few of the stuff that we received to cope with on the street. And so we received to get it cleaned up.”
Bengals WR Charlie Jones sprained his proper ankle within the second half.
Broncos WR Marvin Mims Jr. began after injuring a hip Saturday and being listed as questionable.
Bengals: Host the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Broncos: Go to the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
