Bo Nix throws for 326 yards and two TDs as Denver cruises to a 28–3 blowout of Cincinnati; Broncos’ defense suffocates Joe Burrow-less Bengals. Full recap, stats & how to watch.

Denver vs Cincinnati — the headline

The Denver Broncos steamrolled the Cincinnati Bengals 28–3 at Empower Field at Mile High behind a career night from Bo Nix, a balanced run game (J.K. Dobbins 101 rush yards) and a suffocating Denver defense that limited Cincinnati to 159 total yards in a one-sided Monday Night Football performance.

Why Bengals -Broncos mattered

This game wasn’t just Week 4 scheduling — it carried short- and medium-term significance for both franchises:

• Broncos (Sean Payton era check): Denver needed a statement after a razor-thin early-season stretch; a dominant win on Monday Night shows the offense and defense can cohere under Sean Payton’s system. Bo Nix’s performance (career-best passing numbers) suggests Denver’s QB plan might be stabilizing.
• Bengals (Burrow absence & resilience test): Cincinnati was forced to play without Joe Burrow, and the result amplified questions about depth, in-game discipline (11 penalties flagged) and the unit’s ability to generate offense when star power is absent. The Bengals’ 159 total yards are a red flag for any team expecting playoff sustainability.
• Division & playoff ripple: A dominant home win helps Denver’s AFC positioning and confidence for tougher upcoming opponents; for Cincinnati, it’s an early call to reassess short-term strategy and protect roster health.

Those storylines make this outcome more consequential than a routine Week-4 result: it alters narratives about Denver’s quarterbacking, Denver’s run game, and Cincinnati’s depth without Burrow.

Denver vs Cincinnati Final score & the five load-bearing facts

1. Final: Denver Broncos 28, Cincinnati Bengals 3.
2. Bo Nix: Career-best passing — 326 yards and 3 total TDs (two passing, one rush), completing 29 of 42 passes.
3. Broncos run game: J.K. Dobbins broke 100 yards — 101 rushing yards on 16 carries — as Denver controlled the clock and tempo.
4. Bengals struggle: Cincinnati managed only 159 total yards, with backup QB Jake Browning limited to 125 passing yards; Bengals were penalized 11 times (eight accepted) and had a 37-yard Tee Higgins catch nullified by an illegal formation call.
5. Defensive dominance: Denver forced three punts between the 2nd and 4th quarters and held the Bengals to zero offensive first downs for long stretches — the Broncos outgained the Bengals 512–159 in total yards.

(These five are the most searched facts fans and editors want first: final, QB performance, running attack, opponent collapse, and defensive control.)

See more

PRIME-TIME DUBS 🤩 pic.twitter.com/n02Mct8FW2

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 30, 2025

 

How the game unfolded — by quarters & turning moments

First quarter — Denver answers a Bengals field goal with a late TD

Cincinnati actually struck first with an early Evan McPherson 26-yard field goal, but Denver closed the quarter with tempo — a nine-play drive capped by a 6-yard Bo Nix rushing TD in the final seconds of Q1 that set the tone for Denver’s control. That drive illustrated Denver’s capacity to mix run and play-action against a reworked Bengals defense.

Second quarter — Broncos take over

The second quarter was where Denver built separation. The Broncos added two touchdowns (one a strike to Courtland Sutton) and forced Cincinnati into three-and-outs. Denver’s offense hit rhythm; the Bengals committed penalties and failed to find an answer without Joe Burrow, and halftime arrived with Denver comfortably in front.

Third quarter — defensive clampdown

No scoring for either side in Q3, but the Broncos dominated field position and first downs. Denver’s defense, led by edge pressure from Nik Bonitto and interior disruptions, prevented the Bengals from establishing any sustainable drives. By the end of the quarter, Cincinnati’s offense looked listless.

Fourth quarter — Broncos seal it, Bengals limp out

Denver added an insurance touchdown in the fourth (a late receiving score and a short run TD mixed in) to close out 28–3. The Broncos controlled time of possession and finished the night with a massive yardage advantage and clear game control. Cincinnati left Mile High with systemic questions about depth and discipline.

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

 

Player spotlights — who made the difference

Bo Nix — the QB breakout night

Bo Nix produced a statement performance: efficient, poised, and explosive when asked. His final line (326 yards and 3 total TDs) is a season-defining stat line for a QB in his developmental phase, and it shows Denver’s offense can both sustain long drives and strike vertically. Nix’s decision-making on play-action and pre-snap reads limited turnovers and kept the chains moving.

Why it matters: For Denver’s season arc, proving that Nix can perform at this level against an established defense provides breathing room for Sean Payton’s attack and reduces urgency at the position for the front office.

J.K. Dobbins — downhill runner and clock controller

Dobbins’ 101 rushing yards came at crucial moments, puncturing the Bengals’ front and allowing Denver to control possession and tempo. His explosive burst on designed runs and inside gap vision gave the Broncos a second dimension — rarely do you beat a team 512–159 without establishing the run.

Denver defense & Nik Bonitto — consistent pressure

The Broncos’ defense deserves a full chapter: pressure on Jake Browning and excellent tackling limited the Bengals to only a field goal and a handful of yards. Linebacker and edge play (Bonitto, Cooper) disrupted routes and created hurried throws — the kind of complementary football that wins on Monday nights.

Bengals struggles (Jake Browning & skill corps)

Without Joe Burrow, Cincinnati’s offense looked disjointed. Browning’s modest 125 passing yards and the team’s penalties (including a nullified Tee Higgins catch) robbed the unit of momentum. Ja’Marr Chase finished with limited yardage, and the offense failed to adjust when the run game stalled.

Coaching & tactical analysis — how Sean Payton out-schemed Zac Taylor’s replacement plan

Denver (what worked)

• Balanced attack: Payton‘s design mixed power runs to Dobbins with play-action to stretch the Bengals vertically — the result was a colossal 512 total-yard night.
• Defensive scheming: Mixing zone and pressure packages created confusion for backup QB Jake Browning and forced low-value throws. Denver’s secondary stayed in phase and limited big plays.
• Third-down & time of possession control: Denver won the third-down battle and controlled the clock, limiting possessions for a struggling Cincinnati offense.

Cincinnati (where things broke)

• Quarterback depth exposed: Burrow’s absence magnified limitations in Cincinnati’s quarterback depth; Browning couldn’t replicate Burrow’s timing or leadership.
• Penalty & discipline issues: The Bengals were flagged 11 times and suffered a nullified 37-yard catch — mistakes that flipped field position and killed drives. Discipline will be a top priority in the next film sessions.
• Inability to adjust: When Denver leaned into the run and play-action, the Bengals lacked an answer — either personnel or schematic — to disrupt Denver’s flow. Zac Taylor’s squad must find ways to be less predictable without Burrow.

 

Advanced metrics & statistical snapshot

• Total yards: Broncos 512, Bengals 159 — dominance on paper and scoreboard.
• First downs & time of possession: Denver earned 29 first downs vs Cincinnati’s 9, and held the ball for a significant edge — the kind of control that converts to wins.
• Explosive plays & EPA: Denver generated multiple big plays (long completions, chunk runs) that pushed Expected Points Added (EPA) well in Denver’s favor. Embed a win-probability chart to show how Denver’s chance climbed after each turnover and big play.

If you’re embedding visuals: use ESPN’s boxscore widget and the NFL’s gamecast charts for play-by-play EPA and win-probability graphs — they tell the same story numerically.

Injury notes & roster implications

• Bengals: This game was played without Joe Burrow (injury absence). The team will assess the burden on backups and consider short-term adjustments or practice-squad moves to fortify depth. The nullified Tee Higgins catch and penalties also raise questions about in-game communication and alignment. (Reuters)
• Broncos: No major season-ending issues reported immediately after the game; Denver’s rotation ran deep and starters were managed late in the fourth with a comfortable lead. Sean Payton will still monitor wear and tear after a physical outing.

Expect midweek MRI and practice reports from both clubs; those official reports will update designations for Week 5. Link to team injury reports (Broncos.com and Bengals.com) for the canonical updates.

What this result means — implications for both teams

For the Broncos

• Momentum builder: A convincing MNF win gives Denver confidence entering a tougher slate — including a looming trip to Philadelphia (per MileHighReport scheduling notes). The offense looked multi-dimensional and the defense answered the bell. (Mile High Report)
• Quarterback outlook: Bo Nix’s career night quiets some early-season questions — the offense may not need a short-term QB change, easing external pressure on management.

For the Bengals

• Reality check: Losing badly without Burrow reveals a depth problem and discipline gaps on special teams/penalty fronts. This may force personnel moves, schematic shifts, and urgent work on fundamentals.
• Short-term priorities: Restore pass protection, reduce penalties, and find consistent short-yardage answers for when Burrow is unavailable. Zac Taylor’s staff has homework to keep the season salvageable. (CBSSports.com)

Fan reaction & social media pulse

Social timelines lit up with Broncos praise (Nix, Dobbins, defense) and Bengals frustration (penalties, lack of Burrow). Highlight clips — Nix’s deep strike to Courtland Sutton, Dobbins’ breakaway runs, and the Tee Higgins nullified play — trended within minutes on X and YouTube. Local beat writers and national analysts contrasted Denver’s team balance with Cincinnati’s brittle depth.

Where to watch & how to catch replays (US & global)

• Live Broadcast: The game aired on Monday Night Football — check ESPN/ABC in the U.S. for live coverage and replays. Local blackouts and rights vary by market.
• Streaming & replays: ESPN+ and NFL+ provide condensed game packages and highlight reels. Team websites (Broncos.com, Bengals.com) publish official recaps, pressers and coach interviews postgame.
• Best clip searches: Search “Bo Nix Broncos highlights,” “J.K. Dobbins 100 yards Broncos,” and “Broncos Bengals Monday Night highlights” on official NFL YouTube channel for canonical clips.

Betting, fantasy & managerial implications

• Fantasy: Bo Nix’s breakout boosts Broncos skill players in weekly QB/WR consideration (Courtland Sutton, Puka Nacua if active). Dobbins’ 100+ night solidifies RB value when in favorable matchups. Bengals fantasy managers will be cautious with WRs given the team’s offensive dysfunction without Burrow. (SI)
• Betting markets: Lines will respond — Denver’s win makes them look flashier in future spreads; Cincinnati’s loss without Burrow could alter futures and lines until Burrow’s return status is clarified. Bookmakers will adjust win totals and futures accordingly.

Quotes & immediate postgame themes (highlights)

• Sean Payton (Broncos): Praised the offense’s balance and the defense’s discipline. (See Broncos.com postgame for full quotes.) (atozsports.com)
• Zac Taylor / Bengals: Frustration over penalties and execution; Taylor will stress discipline and technique in next week’s practice. (See Bengals.com recap.)

Embed postgame press conference clips for direct quotes when you publish.

Editors’ follow-ups & story ideas

1. Quarterback development: Deep film session on Bo Nix’s reads, footwork, and how Denver schemed his success (1,200–1,800 words). (NFL.com)
2. Bengals depth audit: Exploring QB backup options, WR blocking/discipline, and special teams corrections. (800–1,200 words)
3. Run game mechanics: Break down J.K. Dobbins’ 100-yard performance — line calls, gap choices, and tackle matchups. (600–1,000 words) (Mile High Report)

FAQs fans search for

Q: What was the final Broncos vs Bengals score?
A: Denver Broncos 28, Cincinnati Bengals 3. (ESPN.com)

Q: Who started at QB for the Broncos?
A: Bo Nix — he threw for 326 yards and accounted for three total TDs. (Reuters)

Q: Why weren’t the Bengals productive?
A: Cincinnati played without Joe Burrow and committed 11 penalties; backup QB Jake Browning was limited and the offense managed only 159 total yards. (Reuters)

Q: Where can I watch highlights?
A: ESPN, NFL.com and the teams’ official YouTube channels host highlights and condensed game packages. (ESPN.com)