Not to be overdramatic, but the sky is literally falling for Cincinnati Bengals fans.
Okay, maybe not literally—but the Bengals’ 2025 campaign “stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will
fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while all the Company is true,” as Lady Galadriel once said.
The sentiment fits. Cincinnati squeaked past two bad teams to open the season, lost their best player in the process, and then got embarrassed to franchise-record proportions in Week 3. Now, with Monday Night Football looming, the season feels like it’s teetering.
The 1-2 Broncos opened as 7.5-point favorites. If the Bengals stumble again, especially with the Lions and Packers waiting on the schedule, that early 2-0 momentum will vanish.
But this game isn’t just about math in the standings. When a team gets humiliated the way Cincinnati did last week, it needs a “get right” game—a chicken-soup-for-the-soul kind of night. A convincing win would restore confidence. Another collapse could sink it.
So, with that in mind, here are the matchups that could decide Monday night.
Zac Taylor vs. Himself
Week 3 was a perfect storm of disaster: six fumbles, two interceptions, and play-calling that lacked imagination or rhythm. First-down runs went nowhere, blending together into a gray blob of futility. It felt like Bob Bratkowski had returned to the headset.
Taylor’s adjustments—or lack thereof—will define whether this offense can function without Joe Burrow. His Week 3 plan didn’t work. His Week 4 one has to.
Ja’Marr Chase vs. Pat Surtain II
A heavyweight fight: the league’s best wide receiver against the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Chase is Browning’s go-to target, but Surtain can play both sides and Denver will surely do everything possible to erase Chase from the game plan.
The last time these two met—Week 17 of 2024—Chase caught nine passes for 102 yards on 15 targets. That was with Burrow throwing. Monday will test how much Browning can keep that connection alive.
Tee Higgins vs. Riley Moss
Back in that same game, when Chase was held without a touchdown, Higgins erupted: 11 catches, 131 yards, three scores. Moss was beaten on two of those touchdowns and gave up 12 receptions for 137 yards, earning a brutal PFF grade of 30.3.
That was peak Burrow. Still, Higgins and Chase remain the league’s most dangerous receiving duo, and Moss could be a pressure point again.
Joseph Ossai/Myles Murphy vs. Mike McGlinchey
Trey Hendrickson usually works over the left tackle, where he already has 17 pressures this season—third most in the NFL. He’ll get his, even against Garrett Bolles, PFF’s top-graded pass-blocking tackle.
The opposite edge is less certain. With Shemar Stewart unlikely to play, Ossai and Murphy must step up against McGlinchey. Each notched a sack in Week 3. If they can provide consistent heat opposite Hendrickson, Denver’s offense could unravel.
Bengals offensive line vs. Broncos pass rush
Two undeniable facts:
- Denver’s defense leads the league with 12 sacks.
- Cincinnati’s offensive line has struggled in protection all season
That’s a scary combination for Jake Browning. Orlando Brown Jr. faltered last week, and the Bengals may be starting rookie Jalen Rivers at right guard—meaning both guards next to Ted Karras would be rookies.
If Browning is going to exploit his receivers, he needs time. If he’s running for his life, it’s Denver who will benefit.
What about you? Which matchups will you be keeping an eye on?
