(Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Bengals will be looking to turn the page following a dismal Hall of Fame Game performance Sunday night at Paul Brown Stadium, where they continue their preseason by playing host to the Denver Broncos.
NFL Preseason: Broncos Get First Look At Tim Tebow In Game Action
The Bengals fell, 16-7, to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night and didn't score their only points until the game's closing minutes, though Cincinnati's core of starters was not on the field for much of the contest.
Quarterback Carson Palmer completed just 2-of-5 passes for 18 yards, with both completions going to new Bengals wideout Terrell Owens, before yielding to backups. Starting running back Cedric Benson had just two carries for seven yards in a cameo, and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco did not have a catch during a brief appearance.
The Bengals' lone touchdown came on a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jordan Palmer to tight end Darius Hill.
In keeping with early preseason tradition, neither team’s starters is expected to play much on Sunday night.
The Broncos will head into Sunday's contest simply looking to remain healthy after a brutal early-season stretch depleted their ranks.
Josh McDaniels' club already lost top pass rusher Elvis Dumervil (torn pectoral), likely for the season, and running backs Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) and Correll Buckhalter (back) have also been dealing with injuries. Neither is expected to play on Sunday.
Still, that won’t be the part of the Denver backfield that most observers will be focusing on.
After dealing for Brady Quinn (ex-Browns) and selecting Tim Tebow (Florida) in the first round of the April draft, the depth chart behind starter Kyle Orton has been a subject of debte. Quinn and Tebow both figure to play extensively in Cincinnati.
Then there's wide receiver, where Brandon Marshall is now a Dolphin and the team drafted Demaryius Thomas in the first round as a potential successor. The Georgia Tech product likely won't play on Sunday, however, after aggravating a foot injury.
The defense has a new coordinator, as Don Martindale replaces Mike Nolan, and some intriguing new pieces like nose tackle Jamal Williams (ex-Chargers) and inside linebacker Akin Ayodele (ex-Dolphins).
The Broncos hold a 2-1 lead in their all-time preseason series with the Bengals, including a 24-20 Denver win in the last such meeting, at Riverfront Stadium in 1981.
The clubs last met in meaningful play in Week 1 of last season, a 12-7 Broncos win at Paul Brown Stadium determined by Orton's fluky 87-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley off a tipped ball in the final minute.
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