The Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos will clash on NFL Monday Night Football tonight in a big game that has important implications for the Playoffs. With just one more game remaining of the regular season after today's match up, the Bengals and Broncos will be vying for top seed positions, and home advantage to take with them into the Playoffs. The game has a scheduled start time of 8.30 p.m. ET and takes place from Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. The game can be watched on TV on the ESPN network or online through live stream via the link below.
The Broncos will be looking to claim the win today to clinch not only their Playoff berth, but also to steal away the No. 2 seed spot in the AFC and a first round bye. However, they face a Bengals team that has been excellent this season and who themselves are looking to claim the first round bye in the postseason. So this should be an immense clash and a perfect warm up for the Playoff's knock out football.
Coming into today's game the 11-3 Bengals have the advantage and are sitting in the 2nd seed position in the AFC, with the New England Patriots sitting in the top spot with a 12-3 record.
The Broncos meanwhile are on 10-4, which currently sees them lying in the 3rd seed position in the AFC, although they are yet to clinch their Playoff berth.
The Bengals have already secured their Playoff spot for a franchise record fifth straight season, but they still have a lot to play for, and will not want to be dumped into the Wild Card Round after all their efforts so far this season.
A first round bye for the Bengals could prove important, as they would love that extra week of rest for its roster, as well as some much needed time for injured quarterback Andy Dalton to recover from his fractured thumb.
Although Cincinnati have made the Playoffs for now a fifth straight season, they have gone out at the first hurdle in each one of their four previous visits. So they will understand the importance of claiming a top seeding position and getting their team as fit and ready as possible to try and go further than in previous seasons.
They face a Denver Broncos team that has seemingly lost its confidence and its rhythm. After a perfect 7-0 start to the season despite mixed performances, they have lost four of their last seven games, and could now lose the AFC West. If they lose their final two games they could even miss out on the postseason altogether. However, even though things could turn into a nightmare in the next two weeks, they could also go the opposite way quite easily, as a win today would guarantee their Playoff berth, and also move them ahead of the Bengals into the No. 2 seed position.
Denver will want to see its defense back to its best today. After putting on almost a season's worth of top performances to become the top ranked defense in the league, the Broncos defense was suddenly absent for their recent defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns as the Steelers won 34-27 to leave the Broncos postseason future still up in the air.
Whether the Broncos can finally secure their postseason berth tonight remains to be seen, and to be sure, the Bengals will be in no mood to give up their No. 2 seed spot to Denver tonight.
This immense NFL Monday Night Football 2015 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos has a scheduled start time of 8.30 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the ESPN network or online through live stream by clicking here.
