Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos Best Games Vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

As the Denver Broncos face the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday, we look back at three games that certainly go down as the best in head-to-head matches.

The Broncos have had their fair share of quarterbacks over the years, but Jay Cutler is right near the top of the chart as the most notable. Cutler was with the Broncos in 2006 and there he faced Bengals’ quarterback Carson Palmer in a instant classic that will forever go down as the Bengals’ miscue.

Move forward to 2009, the Broncos were forced to learn a new offense under head coach Josh McDaniels. McDaniels will forever be known as little hoodie, but in 2009 against the Bengals, the fans were treated to another wild ride of a finish. Kyle Orton’s week one game was a snoozer from the beginning to the nearly the very end.

Last year, the Broncos were vying for the number one seed in the postseason and a chance for home field throughout the playoffs. Brock Osweiler already had game experience under his belt, but the Broncos defense struggled against AJ McCarron’s pinpoint accuracy until the very end.

2006 – Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Sep 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a Denver Broncos helmet on the field against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Back in the day, the Broncos once Jay Cutler as their starting quarterback. Remember him? The Bell tandem at running back struggled to get going until the fourth quarter. The game overall was a back-and-forth affair from the beginning to the close to the very end. Both quarterbacks with the Broncos and Bengals are no longer with their respective teams. Cutler is now with the Chicago Bears and Carson Palmer plays for the Arizona Cardinals.

Cutler struggled to put up a 200-yard passing game, only to muster a 179 yards through the air. Palmer attempted 40 passes in the game, but also failed in the passing attack totaling 209 yards. In every category, it seemed the Bengals had the Broncos number, but Mike Bell punched it in from two-yards out to take the lead 24-17. After that score, the game reach a new level of entertaining.

Palmer lead the Bengals down on a game-tying drive completing a pass in the red zone to TJ Houshmandzadeh to draw the score to 23-24 in favor of the Broncos. The extra point to tie the game was botched and fumbled giving the Broncos the 24-23 win. This would not be the most unpredictable victories against the Bengals. There was another a few years later.

2009 – Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Immaculate Deflection

Josh McDaniels first season took center stage against the Cincinnati Bengals in week one starting a string six straight wins to begin the 2009 campaign. Kyle Orton manned the quarterback position till the middle of the 2011 season, but against the Bengals he struggled all game long. The 12-7 victory was a snoozer to nearly the very end of the game.

Correll Buckhalter was the starting running back for the Broncos, while Knowshon Moreno, the team’s first round draft pick that year is the backup. Both teams combined for 600 yards of offense. Bengals only had one touchdown and the Broncos one touchdown, as well. Matt Prater, now replaced by Brandon McManus, was the kicker at the time. He supplied the two field goals to take an early 6-0 advantage. A late run by Cedric Benson gave the Bengals the lead with 38 seconds on the clock. The Broncos took center stage just three years later to do the impossible.

Brandon Stokley was added to the roster to give Orton comfort ability on third down and a player the veteran quarterback could trust in the offense. Stokley will be remembered for his terrific awareness on the play to catch the winning touchdown after the first play of the drive should have been intercepted. It was as the immaculate deflection and the start of a streak.

Next: 2015 - Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals

2015 – Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals: The Fumble

Dec 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) picks up a fumble away from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (5) to win the game in overtime at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 20-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos 2015 season will be remembered as one of the best ever in the history of the franchise. Brock Osweiler was the “future” at the quarterback position for the team, but due to a Peyton Manning surge in week 17, it sealed Osweiler’s fate with the Broncos. Yet, Osweiler had two memorable wins that season over two of the AFC’s best teams. The Cincinnati Bengals entered the week 16 matchup, as one of many teams with a chance at the number one seed in the playoffs.

DeMarcus Ware was well rested after missing the New England game, but the secondary struggled all game with the pinpoint accuracy of AJ McCarron. McCarron made throws an elite quarterback would but getting lucky in the process. But as we saw throughout the 2015 season, the Broncos defense was historic, beating teams by punching them in the mouth at opportune times.

Osweiler and Broncos were tied with the Bengals in the overtime. On the first play of the overtime, McCarron had the ball knocked out of his hand, but due to the arm moving forward the Broncos defense faced second down. The very next play, a bad snap over McCarron’s head would prove costly and the Broncos defense prevailed yet again caroling, as Ware made sure McCarron did not get his hands on the ball.

Next: Previewing the AFC West Week 3