Bo Nix torched Cincinnati for 326 yards and three touchdowns in Denver’s 28 to 3 demolition on Monday Night Football. Without injured Joe Burrow, the Bengals scraped together just 159 total yards and never threatened after their opening field goal. J.K. Dobbins rushed for 101 yards while backup quarterback Jake Browning managed only 125 passing yards behind constant pressure.
Game Information
Final Score: Broncos 28, Bengals 3
Date: Monday, September 29, 2025
Venue: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Attendance: 75,673
Weather: 66 degrees, 55% humidity, 12 mph wind
Denver improved to 2 and 2 while Cincinnati fell to the same record after their lone field goal proved to be their only scoring play.
Table of Contents
Quarterback Statistics
Nix had time. Browning didn’t. That gap decided everything.
| Quarterback | Team | Completions/Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Rating | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bo Nix | Broncos | 29/42 | 326 | 2 | 1 | 97.9 | 0 |
| Jake Browning | Bengals | 14/25 | 125 | 0 | 0 | 69.6 | 3 |
Nix connected with nine different receivers and never hit the turf behind solid pass protection. His touchdown passes went to Courtland Sutton (20 yards with eight seconds left in the first half) and RJ Harvey (12 yards in the fourth quarter). He also scored on a 6-yard run in the opening quarter.
Browning absorbed three sacks for 19 lost yards and completed just 56 percent of his attempts. Denver’s defensive front generated 16 total pressures with only four rushers, allowing coordinator Vance Joseph to keep linebackers in coverage without dialing up exotic blitzes.
Rushing Statistics
Denver’s offensive front won at the line of scrimmage from the opening snap. The Broncos rushed 38 times for 186 yards compared to Cincinnati’s 15 attempts for 53 yards.
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.K. Dobbins | Broncos | 16 | 101 | 6.3 | 0 | 16 |
| RJ Harvey | Broncos | 14 | 58 | 4.1 | 0 | 9 |
| Bo Nix | Broncos | 6 | 7 | 1.2 | 1 | 6 |
| Marvin Mims Jr. | Broncos | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | 1 | 16 |
| Chase Brown | Bengals | 10 | 40 | 4.0 | 0 | 6 |
| Jake Browning | Bengals | 3 | 4 | 1.3 | 0 | 3 |
Dobbins posted the first 100-yard rushing game by a Broncos player since Latavius Murray in Week 18 of 2022, ending a 38-game drought that stretched across two seasons. The veteran back picked up six first downs on the ground while averaging over six yards per attempt, giving Denver the physical presence they’d lacked all season.
Sean Payton called 26 percent of Nix’s throws off play action, forcing Cincinnati’s defense to respect the ground threat. Harvey added 58 rushing yards and caught four passes for 40 more, establishing Denver’s two-back system as legitimate.
Chase Brown touched the ball 13 times (10 rushes, 3 receptions) but Cincinnati abandoned their running game early while trailing. The Bengals averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and gained only two first downs on the ground all night.
Receiving Leaders
Nix spread the wealth while Browning struggled to connect with his star weapons. Denver averaged 11.2 yards per reception compared to Cincinnati’s 8.9.
| Player | Team | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courtland Sutton | Broncos | 5 | 6 | 81 | 16.2 | 1 | 22 |
| Marvin Mims Jr. | Broncos | 6 | 6 | 69 | 11.5 | 0 | 28 |
| Troy Franklin | Broncos | 4 | 8 | 55 | 13.8 | 0 | 23 |
| RJ Harvey | Broncos | 4 | 5 | 40 | 10.0 | 1 | 14 |
| Tee Higgins | Bengals | 3 | 6 | 32 | 10.7 | 0 | 19 |
| Chase Brown | Bengals | 3 | 3 | 31 | 10.3 | 0 | 12 |
| Ja’Marr Chase | Bengals | 5 | 8 | 23 | 4.6 | 0 | 10 |
Ja’Marr Chase finished with just 23 yards on five catches, his fourth-lowest output in four NFL seasons. Patrick Surtain II shadowed him throughout the game, allowing only one reception for eight yards across three targets in man coverage according to Next Gen Stats. That defensive domination by last season’s Defensive Player of the Year erased Cincinnati’s most dangerous weapon.
Higgins started fast with a 19-yard catch on the opening drive but Riley Moss adjusted his coverage and limited him to two catches for 13 yards the rest of the way. Browning targeted his two elite receivers 14 times but they combined for just 55 yards.
Mims caught all six targets and scored on a 16-yard end around in the second quarter after Pat Bryant threw a crucial block. Sutton’s touchdown came on a perfectly placed back-shoulder throw from Nix with the half winding down, showing the veteran chemistry between quarterback and receiver.
Defensive Statistics
Denver Defense
| Player | Position | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | Pass Deflections | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Singleton | LB | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Nik Bonitto | LB | 3 | 2 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| John Franklin-Myers | DE | 2 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jonathon Cooper | LB | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Ja’Quan McMillian | CB | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Jones | S | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Cincinnati Defense
| Player | Position | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | Pass Deflections | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demetrius Knight Jr. | LB | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Geno Stone | S | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dax Hill | CB | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jordan Battle | S | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B.J. Hill | DT | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Knight grabbed his first career interception on fourth and one in the end zone during the second quarter. With Denver at the Bengals’ 2-yard line, Nix forced a throw into traffic and Knight stepped in front for the pick. Cincinnati couldn’t capitalize, going three and out on the ensuing drive.
Bonitto recorded 1.5 sacks and now has 4.5 through four weeks, matching the most by a Broncos player through Week 4 since Von Miller in 2021. Cooper added a half sack and two quarterback hits while consistently winning his pass rush matchup against right tackle Amarius Mims.
Singleton led all tacklers with 11 stops, anchoring Denver’s defensive unit on a night when they held Cincinnati to season lows at Empower Field. Stone and Hill combined for 19 tackles in the secondary but couldn’t overcome their offense’s complete failure to sustain drives.
Team Statistics
| Category | Bengals | Broncos |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 9 | 29 |
| Total Yards | 159 | 512 |
| Passing Yards | 106 | 326 |
| Rushing Yards | 53 | 186 |
| Third Down | 2/11 (18%) | 8/14 (57%) |
| Fourth Down | 0/0 | 0/1 |
| Red Zone | 1/1 (100%) | 3/4 (75%) |
| Time of Possession | 22:02 | 37:58 |
| Penalties | 11 for 65 | 7 for 72 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Cincinnati ran 43 offensive plays compared to Denver’s 80. The Broncos controlled possession for nearly 38 minutes and averaged 6.3 yards per play while limiting the Bengals to 3.7. Denver’s 29 first downs nearly tripled Cincinnati’s nine, reflecting complete control of the game’s tempo.
The third down disparity proved critical. Denver converted eight of 14 attempts while Cincinnati converted just two on 11 tries. After allowing two conversions on the opening drive, the Broncos defense forced eight consecutive third down stops, suffocating any momentum the Bengals tried to build.
Cincinnati committed 11 penalties for 65 yards, including multiple pre-snap infractions and holding calls that created long yardage situations. The Bengals faced first and 15 or worse five times, putting Browning in impossible positions against an aggressive pass rush.
Special Teams
| Kicker | Team | Field Goals | Extra Points | Long | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wil Lutz | Broncos | 0/0 | 4/4 | 0 | 4 |
| Evan McPherson | Bengals | 1/1 | 0/0 | 26 | 3 |
| Punter | Team | Punts | Yards | Average | Inside 20 | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Crawshaw | Broncos | 4 | 199 | 49.8 | 1 | 62 |
| Ryan Rehkow | Bengals | 8 | 403 | 50.4 | 3 | 69 |
McPherson’s 26-yard field goal gave Cincinnati their only points and extended his remarkable streak to 37 consecutive makes from inside 45 yards. But the kicker never got another opportunity. The Bengals never crossed midfield again after that opening possession, stranding McPherson on the sideline while Rehkow punted eight times.
Rehkow averaged 50.4 yards per punt and pinned Denver inside the 20 three times, giving Cincinnati’s defense favorable field position. Cincinnati’s offense failed to take advantage. Rehkow’s 69-yarder in the first half pushed Denver back to their own 20, only to watch the Broncos march 80 yards for a touchdown anyway. The rookie punter had an excellent game in a losing effort, showcasing his leg strength on a night when his unit needed every yard of help they could get.
Lutz handled the easy work, converting all four extra points as Denver found the end zone four times. The special teams battle became irrelevant once Denver’s offense started rolling.
How Denver Took Control
Cincinnati struck first when McPherson drilled a 26-yard field goal after a 12-play, 62-yard opening drive. Browning completed five of seven passes for 43 yards on that possession, including a 19-yard connection with Higgins on third and six from midfield. That would be Cincinnati’s only trip to the red zone.
Denver answered immediately with a 9-play, 64-yard touchdown drive. Nix scrambled for key yardage on third down, then punched it in from 6 yards out to tie the game at 7 to 3. The Broncos quarterback showed mobility and poise on the opening scoring drive, setting the tone for what would become a dominant performance.
Mims scored on a 16-yard jet sweep in the second quarter after Bryant threw a crucial block on the perimeter, extending the lead to 14 to 3. But the sequence that buried Cincinnati came just before halftime.
After Knight’s end zone interception, Denver forced a three and out. The Broncos got the ball back at their own 20 with just 1:09 remaining. Most teams would run out the clock. Sean Payton attacked. Nix hit Mims for 28 yards to get into scoring range, then found Sutton for the 20-yard touchdown with eight seconds left. The 21 to 3 halftime lead felt insurmountable, and it was.
Harvey’s 12-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter closed the scoring. Denver held the ball for the final 6:11 with a ground-heavy attack featuring Harvey and Dobbins, running out the clock on a completely one-sided affair.
Life Without Burrow
Cincinnati’s offense collapsed without their franchise quarterback. Burrow underwent toe surgery in early September and has now missed multiple games. The Bengals were outscored 55 to 6 in the first half over their last two games, totaling just 13 points in Browning’s two starts.
“The last two weeks just feels like never really had momentum,” Browning said after the game. “Haven’t really been explosive, have one or two good plays and then we’ll get into first and 20. You’re fighting a hard battle with one arm behind your back when you end up in longer situations.”
The pass protection broke down repeatedly. Browning faced three sacks and 16 total pressures from a Denver front that didn’t need to blitz. Joseph rushed four and dropped seven into coverage, knowing his defensive line could win one-on-one matchups against Cincinnati’s struggling offensive front.
Chase expressed frustration with the offensive performance. “We have the talent,” he said. “We know we’re capable, we know the ins and outs of the offense. We know we’re a downfield threat team but right now, we’re facing a little adversity and we got to figure it out.”
Head coach Zac Taylor acknowledged the discipline issues plaguing his team. “It is a lack of discipline,” Taylor said. “Pre-snap penalties, as a whole it’s not good enough. We’re a team that should not be having that problem.”
Denver’s Balanced Attack
Payton got the offensive performance he’d been seeking since training camp. Nix showed poise in the pocket, made accurate throws down the field, and protected the football. His lone interception came on a fourth down attempt in the red zone where he tried to squeeze a pass into tight coverage, an acceptable risk given the situation.
Dobbins’ 101-yard performance provided Denver the physical presence they desperately needed. The veteran back consistently gained chunks on first down, keeping the Broncos ahead of the chains. His 6.3 yards per carry came on 16 touches, showing both efficiency and durability through four quarters.
“We showed that we’re a tough team,” Dobbins said. “And we can be even tougher.”
Denver’s offensive line didn’t allow a single sack on 45 pass attempts. Center Luke Wattenberg struggled with penalties (two holds, a false start, and an ineligible man downfield violation) but the unit kept Cincinnati’s pass rush at bay throughout.
Mims provided the explosive element Payton wanted from his second-year receiver. He caught all six targets for 69 yards and scored on the jet sweep, becoming a legitimate dual threat. Sutton’s veteran presence showed on the back-shoulder touchdown just before halftime, where his body positioning and timing were perfect against tight coverage.
Cincinnati’s Problems Mount
The Bengals entered Week 4 needing a bounce-back performance after getting demolished 48 to 10 in Minnesota. They got more of the same at Mile High. Consecutive blowout losses exposed serious issues on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, Cincinnati can’t protect Browning or establish the run. Chase Brown touched the ball just 13 times despite averaging 4.0 yards per carry. The Bengals abandoned their ground game early and forced Browning into obvious passing situations where Denver’s pass rushers pinned their ears back.
The 11 penalties for 65 yards destroyed Cincinnati’s rhythm. Five false starts and multiple holding calls put them behind the chains repeatedly. “We can’t just hand the other team five yards and put us behind the eight ball,” Taylor said.
Cincinnati’s defensive unit couldn’t stop Denver’s balanced attack. They surrendered 512 total yards and gave up 29 first downs. Stone and Hill combined for 19 tackles but spent most of the night chasing Denver’s playmakers in space. The defensive line generated minimal pressure with B.J. Hill’s one tackle for loss being their only disruption in the backfield all night.
Road Ahead
Denver improved to 2 and 2 with their seventh consecutive home victory dating back to 2024. Their last home loss came against the Chargers in Week 6 last season, and Empower Field at Mile High has become a fortress. The Broncos face Philadelphia in Week 5 on short rest. The undefeated Eagles present their toughest test yet, though Denver carries momentum from this complete performance.
Cincinnati fell to 2 and 2 facing a brutal schedule ahead. Without Burrow, their playoff margin for error has vanished. Cincinnati hosts Detroit in Week 5 before facing Green Bay and Pittsburgh in consecutive weeks. Without knowing when Burrow would return, the Bengals faced the real possibility of falling below .500 before their franchise quarterback could rescue them. The margin for error evaporated after back-to-back blowouts revealed vulnerabilities across the roster.
The AFC playoff race was already tightening in late September. Denver needed to prove they could win on the road against elite competition. Cincinnati needed Burrow back soon or risk watching their season slip away before Halloween. For comprehensive NFL coverage including detailed game analysis and player performance breakdowns, The Sportie delivers expert insights across all major sports.
Nix’s 326 passing yards and Dobbins’ 101 rushing yards gave the Broncos the offensive balance they needed. Cincinnati’s 159 total yards showed how far they’ve fallen without their franchise quarterback running the offense. These statistics from Denver’s Week 4 victory reflect complete domination in every phase of the game.
