Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos Prediction and Picks – Monday, September 29, 2025
Use Code SSWC The Cincinnati Bengals will visit the Denver Broncos for a Week 4 matchup on Monday Night Football, and we'll preview the lines and odds in our Bengals vs. Broncos prediction. The Bengals are 2-1 after an ugly road loss to the Vikings last week, while the Broncos are 1-2 after losing a close struggle to the Chargers. Kickoff is set for 8:15 PM ET on Monday, September 29.
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How will Bengals bounce back from embarrassing Week 3 loss?
After a devastating turf toe injury to Joe Burrow in Week 2, the Cincinnati Bengals entered their first game with Jake Browning at quarterback against the Vikings in Week 3. The good news is that Browning looked competent–no one who watched the game would suggest that Browning was why the team lost 48-10. The bad news is that no quarterback in the NFL could've salvaged the game for Cincinnati after the blistering sequence of unforced errors they committed in the first half.
The Bengals' first drive ended in an interception – Vikings safety Harrison Smith tipped a ball that was intended for Chase Brown down the seam, and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers took the opportunity to return it 87 yards for a touchdown. Rodgers appeared again in the second quarter to force a fumble from Noah Fant, which he immediately landed on, picked up, and ran 66 yards back for another touchdown. The Bengals' very next drive ended in another fumble, which Rodgers took from WR Ja'Marr Chase, followed by a Vikings scoring drive that faced little resistance from the Bengals' defense. Samaje Perine fumbled again to end the Bengals' next drive after two plays, setting the Vikings up for a field goal drive that took them to half up 34-3.
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Fant, who co-led the team with five catches against the Vikings, is in concussion protocol and has been ruled out for the upcoming game against the Broncos. Perine (finger) and Dalton Risner (calf), who started at right guard against the Vikings, are listed on the injury report with unspecified designations for gameday. Defensively, Shemar Stewart is out for another week with an ankle injury, while Cam Taylor-Britt (hamstring) is unspecified after missing the Vikings game.
Broncos fail to capitalize on defensive performance in 23-20 loss
The Denver Broncos became the latest victims of the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3, falling 23-20 in the fourth quarter after late-game heroics from Justin Herbert and the Chargers' offense. It was an exceptionally close game on the road against a Chargers team that looks like one of the league's best, and the Denver defense looked exceptional despite the loss.
Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper consistently pressured Herbert off the edge, accounting for three of the team's five sacks. Brandon Jones intercepted a pass in the second quarter, which came on a deflection from Riley Moss after the Broncos' front crushed the pocket and got in Herbert's face as he released the throw. The Chargers' first drive of the third quarter died on arrival when Jonah Elliss forced a fumble on returner Derius Davis, which J.L. Skinner recovered to set up a field goal drive that put the Broncos up 14-10. The game could've swung the Broncos' way if they'd made any of several opportunities they missed on offense – Bo Nix threw the team's first touchdown pass to WR Courtland Sutton at the end of the first half, roughly six minutes after a flea flicker that ended with him overthrowing a wide-open Marvin Mims down the right sideline. He missed again down the left sideline in the final two minutes, overthrowing an open Sutton on a pass that could've set up a game-winning field goal if it didn't score outright.
TE Evan Engram (back) remains on the injury report after missing the Chargers game, but was a full participant in practice throughout the week. John Franklin-Myers (hip), who recorded another of the Broncos' five sacks, was limited on Thursday but practiced fully on Friday and Saturday. Bonitto (wrist), Nate Adkins (foot), and Alex Singleton (thumb) were full participants for the week. Mims (hip) is questionable for the game after being limited on Saturday.
Bengals vs. Broncos Pick
Spread Pick for Bengals vs. Broncos
- Cincinnati Bengals +7.5 (-115) (4 Units)
The Broncos' last home game was their 20-12 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. They're 1-2 overall losses against the Colts and Chargers by a combined four points, adding up to a 0-2-1 record against the spread. The Bengals lost ugly against the Vikings last week, but the absurd volume of fumbles and easy points they handed to the Vikings isn't something that even a defense as good as the Broncos' can simply replicate. I'd expect a bounce-back performance from the Bengals offense–something at least good enough to stay within eight points of a Broncos offense that looks like it caps out at or below 30.
Over/Under Pick for Bengals vs. Broncos
- Over 44.0 (-110) (4 Units)
The Bengals scored 10 points last week, playing on the road against a well-coached and highly respected Vikings defense but still primarily succumbing to self-inflicted wounds. It's hard to imagine them looking worse in Week 4, even against a Broncos defense that hasn't given anything easy to their opponents. The Broncos' offense, for their part, should trend up at home after missing several scoring opportunities on the road against the Chargers' exceptional defense. The total line here isn't high; it's only one point higher than the final score of the Broncos' 20-23 loss last week. If both offenses look better, this game should hit the over.
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