Both the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos have been among the best teams in the league this season, but both have also had significant issues at the quarterback position. Denver has been rolling with Brock Osweiler due to injuries and struggles from starter Peyton Manning, while the Bengals have relied on the equally unknown AJ McCarron.
Bengals vs. Broncos 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Bengals and Broncos have a lot on the line heading into Monday’s game.
Andy Dalton was playing well, unlike Manning, before he went down with an injury. Dalton broke his thumb against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the middle of a heated race for a top seed in the AFC.
The Bengals did get some good news on Sunday, as the Steelers fell to the Baltimore Ravens, giving them the AFC North crown. That guarantees they will host a playoff game, and with the New England Patriots also losing to the New York Jets, the Bengals can clinch a first-round bye with a win over the Broncos. They are also in the running for the top seed.
McCarron will face Osweiler and try and pick up the win, which would decrease his chances of playing in the postseason as a first-round bye would give Dalton more time to recover. All the Bengals need is a win or a tie to secure a first-round bye, alongside the New England Patriots.
Starting against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15, McCarron completed 15 of 21 passes for 192 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. In relief of Dalton against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the previous game, McCarron completed 22 of 32 passes for 280 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Osweiler has had a lot more time to grow as a starting quarterback, but his play has been inconsistent. He is coming off his best game yet, throwing three touchdowns and one interception against the Steelers. He completed a career worst percentage of his passes though, turning 44 passes into 21 completions for 296 yards, a completion percentage of 47.7.
Still, he tossed no interceptions and no touchdowns in the previous game, a loss to the Oakland Raiders. Despite his much better performance against the Steelers, the Broncos lost that game as well. They have been on the cusp of clinching a playoff berth and a high seed for weeks, but the Broncos have not looked like themselves in recent weeks.
Thanks to a strong defense, the Broncos won seven consecutive games to start the season, but they have went 3-4 since then. That includes losses in their last two games, though they did score a big win over Tom Brady and the Patriots in Week 12, a close overtime victory that showed everyone that they will still be a force in the playoffs.
The Bengals need a win to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs, but the Broncos need a win or a tie to even clinch a playoff berth. They also had a chance to clinch the AFC West this week, but the rival Kansas City Chiefs are playing well and they won their game. Denver has 10 wins, but they can still miss the playoffs at this stage of the season.
How to watch
When: 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, Denver.
TV: ESPN
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
Online: WatchESPN
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