Denver Broncos

Broncos at Bengals: Highlights, score and recap

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

foxsports

The Cincinnati Bengals need to find a running game to help slow down the Denver Broncos’ pass rush in Week 3.

Defending Super Bowl champions the Broncos will arrive at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday 2-0. Their swarming defense looks as dominant as ever. Bad news for Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton.

He’s passed for 366 yards in each of his first two starts this season. But it will be tough replicating that number against a Denver front seven loaded with pressure specialists, and a secondary bulging with elite cover men.

Dalton would greatly appreciate one of Jeremy Hill or Giovani Bernard emerging as a credible threat on the ground. The Broncos are 23rd against the run after two weeks, per the league’s official site.

If the Bengals can keep the chains moving on the ground, they’ll neutralize and frustrate the Denver pass rush. Keeping game-wrecker Von Miller and his mates quiet is essential for a Cincinnati win.

So is the Bengals’ own ability to stop the run. Surprisingly, Cincy props up the rankings for run defense, despite owning one of the deepest line rotations in the NFL.

Yet, there are issues at linebacker where the suspended Vontaze Burfict is missed. The Bengals need more decisive play from Rey Maualuga and Karlos Dansby.

If they don’t get it, C.J. Anderson is sure to make them pay. He’s running well behind a retooled offensive line led by left tackle Russell Okung.

Denver head coach Gary Kubiak and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison have also made zone-stretch running the focus of the offense again. A heavy diet of running, along with moving pockets and play-action passing, is helping first-year starter Trevor Siemian settle in at quarterback.

But Siemian is sure to feel the heat in Cincinnati. The Bengals are struggling to stop the run, but there’s nothing wrong with their ability to create pressure.

Atkins is still a terror inside, while bookends Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson can change games off the edges. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is also willing to dial up the blitz, usually involving some form of A-gap pressure to disrupt blocking schemes.

Highlights

Highlights will be added as they happen.

Three Stars

1. Von Miller

No defensive player in the league is performing as well as Miller so far this season. To emphasize the point, the league’s official site provided these numbers detailing Miller’s dominance in 2016.

It will be interesting to see where Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips aligns Miller in Cincinnati. DeMarcus Ware’s injury means it might be tempting to move Miller to the open side of the formation, something Phillips loves to do with his pass-rushers.

Yet, that would put Miller in close contact with left tackle Andrew Whitworth, the Bengals’ best O-lineman. No. 58 usually does his damage over right tackle.

Still, the onus is on Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett to step up in Ware’s absence. So don’t be surprised if Phillips gets a little more creative with how he uses his most versatile and destructive chess piece.

2. Aqib Talib

Such a spectacular pass rush often makes it easy to forget how the strength of the Denver defense is its secondary. Phillips can stay ultra-aggressive with his schemes because he knows he has the players to hold up in man coverage.

Specifically, he knows he has a true shutdown cornerback in Aqib Talib. The premier cover man is the star of a loaded group also featuring Chris Harris Jr. and the underrated Bradley Roby.

This trio is chiefly responsible for this remarkable statistic revealing the sustained excellence of Denver’s pass defense, per NFL Research:

#Broncos have gone 28 straight games without allowing an opposing QB to post a passer rating of 100+. Next longest active streak: PIT with 9

— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) September 22, 2016

But Talib is sure to be tested this week. He’ll likely spend most of his Sunday matched up on A.J. Green. Dalton’s favorite target is one of the most explosive playmakers in the NFL.

Green has always been a terrific deep threat, but his route tree has been expanded in recent seasons. Now it’s common to see No. 18 targeted on screens and even slant routes.

Green is good, but he’ll still struggle to shake free from Talib’s overtly physical approach to coverage. Phillips is also likely to commit a safety Green’s way, increasing Talib’s chances of bossing this vital matchup.

3. Giovani Bernard

Dalton would be wise not to test Talib and Co. deep too often. Instead, his best bet will be to isolate Bernard in the underneath passing lanes.

MORE FROM FANSIDED:

10 Best NFL QB/Head Coach combos
10 craziest NFL fan bases
Each NFL team’s best draft pick

The dynamic, fleet-footed runner-receiver has the speed, move skills and intelligence to be prolific in the passing game. Cincinnati must use Bernard creatively to find the right matchups, preferably those drawing inside linebackers into man coverage.

Bernard recorded nine catches for 100 yards and a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2. He needs a similar haul to give the Bengals a chance of winning.