Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has undergone his share of criticism this year. That’s almost unbelievable considering Manning has the third-best QBR in the league, but his record-setting season last year was bound to have a letdown this year. Still, Manning and the Broncos have clinched the AFC West, while their MNF opponent Cincinnati Bengals are fighting for their playoff lives in the AFC North. Tonight’s MNF game has some interesting implications that you can watch on TV, or you can watch Monday Night Football Online Free Broncos vs Bengals live streaming as well.
Kickoff for MNF tonight between the Bengals and Broncos is scheduled for 8:30 EST / 5:30 PST. MNF for the Bengals Broncos game online free is being played in Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals enter tonight’s game as 3.5-point underdogs.
For all the grief Manning gets about poor play on the road, those digs will be overshadowed on MNF tonight by the talk about Bengals QB Andy Dalton crumbling under the primetime lights. As ESPN dug up, Since Dalton assumed his role as starting QB of the Bengals, Cincinnati has gone 2-6 in nighttime games. Peyton Manning’s record on Monday Night? 13-4.
All of that is to say that as we watch Broncos game online free against the home team Bengals, Manning is destined to look good. At least comparatively. Part of that is Manning himself. Part of that is Dalton’s likely struggles in primetime. And part of it is the Broncos being a very different team than the Cleveland Browns team that Cincy walked over last Sunday.
It’s no secret Manning’s arm this season isn’t what it was last year. That’s why the resurgence of running backs C.J. Anderson, Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman has been so important for Denver. The Broncos have a top-five passing game, top-five total offense and top-five defense. Their rushing game is just 16th in the league, but as we watch Broncos game online free MNF live, that backfield trio is crucial to keeping the Bengals defense honest against Manning and the pass.
Unfortunately for the Bengals, the Broncos will be able to key-in on Cincinnati’s stand-out running back Jeremy Hill. For the past six weeks Hill has accumulated a lot of yards, three separate times gaining more than 140. But Denver’s rush defense allows just 71.6 yards per game, which will force Dalton to be on target and keep Denver on its heels.
As stated above, that’s a tall order in primetime games like Monday Night Football. Dalton’s not a slouch, having passed for 3,008 yards and 15 TDs through 14 games, but the Bengals’ two evening games this season have been horrible. First came a 43-17 Sunday Night loss to the Patriots, followed by a 24-3 home loss to Cleveland. Though the Bengals rectified the latter last Sunday, their Week 15 win was an afternoon game.
If the Bengals lose tonight, they’ll face a must-win situation next Sunday night, as the NFL announced that the last Sunday Night Football game of the season will be the Steelers vs Bengals next week. But no pressure, Dalton. You can win one of these two nighttime games, right?
If you’re not near a TV, you can watch Monday Night Football online free Broncos vs Bengals live streaming on the Watch ESPN website or using the Watch ESPN app. You can also watch the MNF Broncos vs Bengals game free online live on the DirecTV website if you have the NFL Sunday Ticket with MAX package.