Denver couldn’t have scripted a more encouraging first game in prime-time.
True, the Bengals came to the Mile High City without leader Joe Burrow and faced long odds of pulling off an upset, but even the 0-4 Titans, owners of the league’s worst record last season, put a scare in the Broncos in Week 1.
The Broncos didn’t let this one slip away or even stay competitive for more than a quarter. Quarterback Bo Nix threw for two touchdowns and ran in another, while Denver outgained Cincinnati 492-147 across the whole game and did not allow points to the Bengals after an opening drive field goal. The game was such a magical, one-sided evening for Denver that the Broncos even boasted a 100-yard rusher for the first time in 38 games: running back J.K. Dobbins with 101 yards on 16 carries. And two non-running backs, Nix and wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr., tallied rushing scores.
Cincinnati had a brief glimmer of hope with a field goal on their opening drive. After that, the Bengals did not cross midfield, while Denver alternated domination from its offense and defense in its most complete game of the season. A two-minute drill touchdown drive that culminated in Nix’s touchdown strike to Courtland Sutton extended the Broncos’ advantage to 21-3 at halftime and was as close to a “dagger” as a play could be in the first half.
Let’s take a closer look at the Broncos’ 28-3 victory:
By the Numbers: 305. Against one of the worst defenses in football, the Broncos had arguably their best half of the season. The Broncos started quietly with a three-and-out on their first possession. After that? 64-yard touchdown drive, 80-yard touchdown drive, 68-yard drive and 80-yard touchdown drive. The one major miscue, a Bo Nix interception in the end zone on fourth-and-1 from the Cincinnati 2, only delayed the inevitable put-away score from Denver. Between Courtland Sutton’s contested catches and yards-after-catch explosiveness, J.K. Dobbins’ bursts through open lanes and the offensive line’s steady play, the Broncos handled business in the first half and had the luxury of easing the intensity after halftime. Denver finished the game with 512 yards from scrimmage, their most in a game since 2014.
They Said It: “Look, we felt like we would be able to run the ball. We knew that this would be an important game for us to establish the line of scrimmage. We did, and we did it in a number of different ways. Almost the antithesis of a week ago, where you looked at our average third down numbers.” - Head coach Sean Payton
Player Spotlight: Jonathon Cooper. Fresh off a new contract, star pass rusher Nik Bonitto is on a tear to start the season, but at least once on Monday night, his biggest obstacle in corralling Bengals backup quarterback Jake Browning for a loss was his own teammate beating him to it. Jonathon Cooper, another homegrown talent, has blossomed into a leader on the defense and dangerous pass rusher in his own right, and on one play Bonitto and Cooper converged on Browning in the backfield for a joint sack. “It’s always a race to the quarterback for us,” Cooper said after the game, before adding, “I’m going to catch him in sacks for sure.” The 239th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Cooper broke out in 2023 with 8.5 sacks and hit double-digit sacks in 2024. He’s well on his way to another personal best this season and has provided a durable, explosive complement to Bonitto and his nearly unblockable arsenal of moves. Between Cooper, Bonitto, linebacker Alex Singleton (11 tackles), safety Brandon Jones and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II, Browning and a previously high-powered Bengals offense had threats to worry about at each level of the Denver defense and struggled mightily in one of the least productive offensive outings of any team this season.
Turning Point: Marvin Mims Jr.’s 16-yard touchdown run. Denver technically took the lead on Bo Nix’s six-yard run, but it was an inspired red zone play call that truly put the Broncos in control. Right on the heels of a touchdown drive, the Broncos continued where they left off with an 11-yard completion to Mims and a pair of lengthy third-down conversions from Nix to Sutton. The Bengals looked to make a stop to keep the score within a possession, but the Broncos found another way to exploit Cincinnati’s defensive shortcomings. Mims took the end-around handoff in the backfield and exploded to the left sideline, benefitting from his Pro Bowl-worthy speed and a textbook block from rookie Pat Bryant. The two-time Pro Bowl selection certainly appreciated Bryant’s assistance: “Without him, I would have been probably negative two yards and on my back, probably crying for someone else to come in.” From there, Mims outraced cornerback Josh Newton and linebacker Oren Burks for the first rushing touchdown of his NFL career. Given the Broncos’ offensive momentum, defensive dominance and the overpowered state of their visitors, an 11-point lead gave the Broncos a very comfortable advantage in a pivotal prime-time game.
Around the Division: The Broncos’ division hopes received a major boost from the 0-3 Giants’ upset victory over the 3-0 Chargers. While Los Angeles holds a 1-0 record against the Broncos and a lead in the division entering Week 5, the Broncos need all the help they can get to climb back into the AFC West race. In Las Vegas, the Raiders dropped their third straight game as a blocked field goal gave the visiting Bears a 25-24 win. And no division update would be complete without a check-in on the Chiefs, who routed the Baltimore Ravens 37-20 in one of the weekend’s true statement wins.
Closing Notes: Monday Night Football against Cincinnati looked like one of the more daunting games on the Broncos’ schedule heading into the season, given the Bengals’ status as a playoff contender and Cincinnati’s 30-24 overtime victory over the Broncos last season. But without Joe Burrow, the Bengals looked like a shell of themselves and had their greatest strength, the passing game, completely negated by the Denver pass rush and secondary. That turned a circle-the-calendar game for the Broncos into a clear blowout and as easy a win as Denver might secure the entire season. The Broncos took the undermanned Bengals seriously and did everything possible on MNF to look the part of playoff contenders. … The Broncos will transition from potentially their easiest home game to their most challenging road game: an early kickoff against the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles. Philadelphia has looked vulnerable in close victories over the Rams and Buccaneers — especially on offense — but the Eagles are relatively healthy and can threaten the Broncos in plenty of ways. Denver will need a complete game from both units, something that has been rare so far this season, to contend with the champs. … Broncos head coach Sean Payton tied NFL coaching legend and personal mentor Bill Parcells with his 172nd regular season victory on Monday. The two joined forces in Dallas from 2003-2005, with Parcells leading the charge and Payton serving as the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach, right before Payton took his first head coaching role with New Orleans. “He’s a pretty big influence on what I’ve been able to achieve,” Payton said after the game in an emotional reflection on Parcells’ impact on his career. “I’m sure we’ll talk some time this week. … He’s paying most of his attention to his horses.”
