DENVER — For the first time this season, the Broncos are set to play under the lights of prime time.
The Broncos (1-2) will look to get back to .500 and extend a six-game home winning streak as they face the Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) on "Monday Night Football" in their first home game since Week 1.
Denver, which has won six consecutive home games by an average of 19.8 points per game, will look to respond to back-to-back losses and close out a victory.
"We've played really good teams, and we've led until the literal last play," quarterback Bo Nix said Thursday. "Sometimes that's how the ball bounces. You just got to make sure that you're doing what you're supposed to do to not only make your team better, but to grow as yourself. Ultimately, we're just here to win football games. You can throw everything out the window; all that matters is the end of the game. Did you win or did you lose? How do you not lose the next time? So, that's what we're focused on this week ... just finding a win."
The Broncos won their only home prime-time game of the season last year, and they'll look to keep that spark as they welcome the Bengals for a critical AFC meeting.
Here are the questions that will determine if Denver can earn a key win:
CAN DENVER WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE?
The Broncos won the takeaway battle for the first time this season in Week 3, and Head Coach Sean Payton Payton said Monday that Denver's plus-two margin helped keep the team in the game. Against the Bengals, the Broncos will again emphasize gaining the edge in that category.
"That has to continue: the ball security and taking it away," Payton said Wednesday. "When we did that a year ago, it was dramatic. We want that trend to continue."
The Broncos won the turnover margin in eight games in 2024 and earned a 7-1 record in those contests. When Denver lost the turnover battle — which happened four times — the team did not find a way to earn a win last year.
In 2025, the Broncos have turned the ball over once in the last two weeks after four turnovers in Week 1, and the Denver offense avoided a turnover against the Chargers. Denver's defense, meanwhile, recorded its first interception of the season in Week 3, and Jonah Elliss forced a turnover on special teams.
Against the Bengals, the Broncos will aim to continue their success. Cincinnati turned the ball over five times in Week 3, and a pair of those turnovers were returned for touchdowns. In addition to two Jake Browning interceptions, the Bengals also lost fumbles on three consecutive possessions to end the first half. Those turnovers helped the Vikings turn a 17-3 lead with two minutes to play in the first half into a 34-3 halftime advantage.
Browning also threw three interceptions as he came off the bench in Week 2 against Jacksonville, and the Bengals' eight giveaways were the most in the NFL entering this weekend's slate. The Bengals have recorded four takeaways through three weeks — tied with Denver for the 10th most in the league — but did not have one in the loss to Minnesota. In all, Cincinnati's minus-4 turnover margin ranks 28th in the league.
If Denver can continue its momentum its the turnover margin, it could help spur a Monday night win.
WILL THE BRONCOS CUT DOWN ON PENALTIES?
In all three phases, the Broncos will look to play cleaner against the Bengals.
Denver accrued 10 penalties for 90 yards in a tight Week 3 loss to the Chargers, and several of them played a defining role in the outcome.
An offsides penalty on a punt gave LA a fresh set of downs in the first quarter and flipped the field position. Three defensive penalties on a third-quarter Chargers drive helped Los Angeles tack on a field goal. An offensive pass interference call near the goal line forced Denver to settle for a field goal late in the game instead of taking a two-score lead. And a late unnecessary roughness penalty aided the Chargers' tying touchdown drive.
"We're high in that category, three weeks in [albeit], but still nonetheless, defensively, offensively, [we are] near the back of the league in penalties," Payton said of the penalties. "Special teams, we've been clean. I think we're fifth. What are the things that put you behind? What keeps you from being inefficient on first and second down? That's something that there's probably a handful of reasons."
Offensively, the Broncos will aim to avoid penalties — and improve their overall first- and second-down efficiency — to create more manageable third-down scenarios. Against Los Angeles, the Broncos faced 10 third downs of at least eight yards — and eight of those required the Broncos to gain at least 10 yards. Only three of Denver's third downs were third-and-5 or shorter — and the Broncos converted two of the three chances.
On the other side of the football, Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph emphasized a similar focus as Denver's defense looks to improve in big moments.
"I think part of us finishing is playing a cleaner brand of football for four quarters, and some of these games wouldn't even come down to that," Joseph said. "But when they do, we have to obviously make the plays to win the games. That's been the conversation. But it's more about the big picture, about playing a cleaner and smarter brand of football for four quarters vs. waiting for the last series of the game to make our plays."
The Broncos have shown flashes of impressive play on both sides of the ball through three weeks, and reducing the penalties could help Denver maximize those moments and earn a win vs. the Bengals.
CAN PAT SURTAIN II SLOW DOWN JA'MARR CHASE?
We could see history on Monday night, as Surtain and Chase would become the first reigning Defensive Player of the Year and receiving triple crown winner to face off. A year ago, Surtain earned the award by recording four interceptions and 11 pass breakups, while Chase caught 127 passes for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns.
In their Week 17 meeting in Cincinnati, Surtain held Chase in check, allowed just three receptions on six targets across 36 routes run. Chase recorded 27 yards on those catches, averaging just 0.8 yards per route. When covered by any other defender, Chase caught six passes on nine targets for 75 yards.
Chase led the Bengals with 50 receiving yards in Week 3, and Jake Browning targeted Chase more than any other player. If Surtain can limit the Bengals' top receiver and force Browning to look elsewhere, it could help Denver's defense.
If Browning — who has recorded a 67.1 passer rating in 2025 — has to hold the ball for an extra moment, it could allow Denver's pass rush to get home. The Broncos lead the NFL in sacks and quarterback hits through three weeks, and they'll aim to get to Browning after he's been sacked four times in a little more than six quarters of work.
Still, with Tee Higgins and Mike Gesicki in the mix in addition to Chase, the Bengals could present a challenge.
"Obviously, Joe [Burrow] is not there this year, but the team's not different as far as the skill people," Joseph said. "They have great skill. They have two receivers that are top 10 or 12 in the league. … That challenge is still there. The guy that's playing for them, he has played in NFL games. He's a veteran player. He can operate at a high level. He's not Joe Burrow, but the offense is still intact. Those skill guys who can make explosive plays are still intact. Our focus is to keep the explosive players from hurting us."
