Five AFC teams were 7-6 entering Week 15 and two of them – Cincinnati and Denver – meet in the Mile High City. The NFL lines favor the Broncos in this crucial contest with the Bengals, who are one game behind Baltimore in the AFC North.
- Game: Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) at Denver Broncos (7-6)
- Location: Empower Field at Mile High
- Day/Time: Sunday, 4:05 ET
- Television: CBS
Betting Lines
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
| Cincinnati | +3 (-120) | +130 | 44(-110) |
| Denver | -3 (Ev) | -150 | 44(-110) |
Head-to-Head
Denver won the last meeting as a four-point favorite, 24-10 at Paul Brown Stadium in 2018. The Broncos broke the game open with consecutive touchdowns in the third quarter – one by wide receiver Courtland Sutton – to take a 21-3 lead. Players siding with the over 45 were still alive when Cincinnati made it 21-10 with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter before under bettors in the Las Vegas odds coasted to victory in the final period. The Bengals snapped a 10-game slide in Denver with a 20-17 triumph in 2017 as a 2½-point underdog. That game also stayed under.
Cincinnati Bengals
Next game: vs Baltimore
Last Game
Cincinnati’s maddening season took another wrong turn with a 26-23 overtime loss at home to San Francisco as a one-point underdog. The Bengals rallied to tie the game at 20 on Joe Burrow’s 32-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase with 1:19 to play and took a 23-20 lead on Evan McPherson’s 41-yard field goal 3:45 into overtime. San Francisco, though, scored a TD with 1:53 left. Under players cashed on the 49½ total betting online when the regulation horn sounded because a maximum of nine points can be scored in overtime these days.
Injury Report
Linebacker Logan Wilson will not play because of a shoulder injury. Wilson boasts four interceptions. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, owner of 12 passes defended, is also out (COVID-19 list).
Denver Broncos
Next game: at Las Vegas
Last Game
Denver took care of business against illness-depleted Detroit 38-10. The Broncos were covering the 13-point spread for good when Melvin Gordon III’s second touchdown of the game made it 31-10 with 6:34 left in the third quarter. Those who sided with under 42 cringed when Teddy Bridgewater connected with Albert Okwuegbunam for a 4-yard TD pass on third-and-goal with 1:51 to go. That completed an 88-yard drive on a day when former Broncos great No. 88 Demaryius Thomas was mourned after passing away three days earlier.
Injury Report
Denver’s top two running backs are banged up. Gordon did not practice Thursday and is questionable to play with thumb and hip injuries while rookie Javonte Williams (knee) is expected to play despite being limited in practice. Safety Kareem Jackson (back) did not practice Wednesday and is questionable.
Javonte Williams leg “kind of swelled up” so the Broncos are giving him the day off of practice today.
Fangio expects him to play.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) December 16, 2021
Betting on the Game
The winner takes a big step toward improving its playoff prospects while the loser will face a bigger climb. Bettors expect Denver to prevail as the line has doubled since the Broncos opened as a 1½-point choice. Neither club has distinguished itself against the spread with Denver 7-6 and Cincinnati 6-7. The under has delivered in 10 of the Broncos’ 13 games, coming through in six straight prior to last week. Denver’s banged-up backfield could play into another low-scoring game. However, the teams are forecast to play under mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the upper 50s, which could help Cincinnati and its potent passing attack. The Bengals are comfortable on the road, going 4-2 straight-up and ATS. The NFL predictions lean toward Cincinnati taking advantage of a beautiful late autumn day in the Mile High City and keeping alive the hopes of winning its first division title since 2015.
