Bengals Weekend Forecast: First glance at the Broncos

As poorly as the Cincinnati Bengals have played, they still find themselves well back of the Denver Broncos for the label of most disappointing team of the season.

The Broncos, who will play host to the Bengals on Sunday, own the same record as the Bengals at 3-6. Denver is just two seasons removed from a Super Bowl championship, and the Broncos came into 2017 having posted five consecutive winning seasons, four of which featured at least 12 wins.

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But things have fallen apart under first-year head coach Vance Joseph, a former Bengals assistant from 2014-15.

All six Broncos have been by double digits, and they are riding their first five-game losing streak since 2010. Denver hasn’t lost six in a row since 1990.

The Broncos defense that ranked fourth in the league in 2016, including first against the pass, is still formidable. They are fourth in total defense (293.6), fifth in rush defense (89.6) and eighth in pass defense (204.0).

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But the Denver quarterbacks continually put the defense in bad positions. Trevor Siemian and Brock Osweiler have combined to throw 13 interceptions, second only to the 18 thrown by Cleveland quarterbacks.

The Broncos also have lost eight fumbles. Their 21 giveaways are second only to the Browns’ 23.

All those turnovers are giving opponents short fields, which is a big reason why a Denver defense that is so solid in the yardage numbers ranks 29th in points allowed (26.6).

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The Broncos have at least two turnovers in eight of nine games this season, and 15 during the five-game losing streak.

Joseph benched Siemian after seven games and inserted Osweiler as the starter two weeks ago, and the move has hardly provided a spark.

Denver lost 51-23 at Philadelphia two weeks ago and 41-16 Sunday night at home against New England. Osweiler is completing just 52 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and three interceptions, even though the Broncos are built to make things easier on the quarterback with a great defense and solid running game.

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The top three rushers, C.J. Anderson, Jamaal Charles and Devontae Booker, each average more than 4 yards per carry, and the Broncos have more first downs than their opponents (171 to 155) and a better third-down completion percentage (39.4 to 27.6).

But while the offensive line deserves some credit for paving the way for three backs to average at last 4 yards, it gets a healthy dose of the blame for allowing 28 sacks, which is tied for seventh most in the league.

The Broncos do have one thing working for them heading into Sunday — they are playing a franchise that hasn’t won in Denver since 1975. The Bengals are 0-10 in their last 10 visits to Denver and 2-13 there all-time.

And the Broncos are 15-3 in their last 18 games against the Bengals, regardless of sit.

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Bengals-Broncos Connections

Broncos head coach Vance Joseph was on the Bengals’ staff as defensive backs coach from 2014-15. … Broncos defensive tackle Domata Peko was a fourth-round draft pick (123rd overall) of the Bengals in 2006 and was with the team through the 2016 season. … Bengals h-back Ryan Hewitt is from Denver (J.K. Mullen High School). … Broncos defensive line coach Bill Kollar played for the Bengals from 1974-76. … Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe played at the University of Cincinnati. … Broncos wide receiver Cody Latimer is from Dayton (Jefferson Township High School). … Bengals defensive tackle Josh Tupou played at the University of Colorado. … Broncos tight end Jeff Heuerman and cornerback Bradley Roby played at Ohio State University. … Broncos offensive line coach Jeff Davidson and linebackers coach Fred Pagac both played at Ohio State University. Pagac also coached at Ohio State from 1978-2000.

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AFC North Outlook

Baltimore (4-5) at Green Bay on Sunday afternoon: The Ravens come off their bye having lost three of four as they head to Lambeau Field, where they have never won in three visits.

Cleveland (0-9) vs. Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon: The Browns will try to avoid becoming only the second team since the merger to start 0-10 in back-to-back seasons (Houston Oilers 1983-84).

Pittsburgh (7-2) vs. Tennessee (6-3) on Thursday night: The Steelers, who currently own the No. 1 seed in the AFC and play five of their final seven games at home, are 6-1 in their last seven primetime games at Heinz Field.

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