Joe Burrow-less Bengals prove no match for Broncos' elite defense

DENVER -- Three hours earlier Monday night's game, an ominous entity covered astir of the downtown neighborhoods that situation Empower Field astatine Mile High.

But the quirky upwind successful the Rocky Mountain regions tin alteration connected a whim, overmuch similar the Denver Broncos truthful acold this season. They had mislaid back-to-back games -- some coming connected the past play -- heading into their prime-time matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The prima yet popped retired earlier kickoff and things looked overmuch brighter for the location squad successful a 28-3 rout. They did it with a defence that showed its elite imaginable erstwhile again -- albeit against an discourtesy without the injured Joe Burrow -- and backmost Bo Nix' astir implicit crippled of the play arsenic helium notched his archetypal 300-yard passing crippled (326) of the year.

There were issues, specified arsenic penalties (7 for 72 yards) -- the Broncos entered this weekend's games tied for the fourth-most punishment yardage and Monday won't assistance the totals arsenic halfway Luke Wattenberg was flagged 4 times unsocial -- and drops connected offense, including 2 by wide receiver Troy Franklin.

But with the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles adjacent connected the docket with a travel to London the pursuing week, the Broncos needed to regain their balance, particularly Nix.

And Monday's get-right triumph did conscionable that.

Here are the astir important things to cognize from Monday nighttime for some teams:

Denver Broncos (2-2)

What to marque of the QB performance: Nix entered the play 26th successful the league successful QBR aft a Week 3 show against the Chargers erstwhile helium missed aggregate big-play chances with overthrows to unfastened receivers. The Broncos had a much reigned-in attack Monday nighttime and Nix was acold much settled. With a small much volition successful the tally crippled and the continued information broad of Courtland Sutton -- 81 yards receiving -- Nix had a composed nighttime overall. Save for an extremity portion interception precocious successful the archetypal fractional helium showed much settled footwork successful the pouch and easy had his champion passing crippled of the season. His 206 yards successful Indianapolis successful Week 2 had been his play high.

Most astonishing performance: Tight extremity Evan Engram has dealt with calf and backmost injuries already his play -- helium missed the Week 3 nonaccomplishment successful Los Angeles -- truthful helium has not had a afloat docket of signifier clip successful the team's offense. But the team's biggest acquisition successful escaped bureau connected discourtesy this past offseason is inactive successful hunt of his bust-out game. By the extremity of the 3rd 4th Monday, Engram had 3 receptions for 18 yards and a driblet connected his six targets. The beleaguered Bengals' defence struggled to get the Broncos disconnected the field, but the Broncos are going to request to find ways to get Engram involved. Broncos manager Sean Payton has said it is an important match-up to beryllium capable to triumph successful the mediate of the tract against nickel defenses.

Stat to know: J.K. Dobbins' 101-yard rushing effort ended a regular-season streak of 37 games for the Broncos without a 100-yard rusher. Latavius Murray had the past 100-y...