
Bengals vs Broncos Match Player Stats: 2025 Recap
There’s nothing quite like a Monday night blowout to reveal a team’s true identity. For the Denver Broncos, their 28-3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals showcased a defense that suffocated an offense missing its star quarterback, Joe Burrow, with CBS Sports (official game tracker) recording Bo Nix throwing for 326 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score.
Final Score: Denver Broncos 28, Cincinnati Bengals 3 ·
Date: September 29, 2025 ·
Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver ·
Broncos QB (Bo Nix): 326 pass yds, 2 TD, 1 rush TD ·
Bengals QB (Jake Browning): 14/25, 125 yds, 0 TD ·
Top Rusher (DEN): J.K. Dobbins – 16 carries, 101 yds
Quick snapshot
- Denver Broncos 28, Cincinnati Bengals 3 (Bengals.com box score)
- Broncos snapped a 2-game losing streak (NFL.com recap)
- Bengals scored only a field goal in the first half (Bengals.com play-by-play)
- Bo Nix threw for 326 yards and 2 TDs (CBS Sports)
- J.K. Dobbins rushed for 101 yards and a TD (ESPN)
- Courtland Sutton caught a 20-yard TD pass (ESPN)
- Jake Browning completed 56% of passes for 125 yards (ESPN game summary)
- Chase Brown led rushing with 40 yards (NFL.com)
- No offensive touchdowns scored (ESPN game summary)
- Broncos recorded 4 sacks (NFL.com recap)
- Bengals held to 159 total yards (Bengals postgame video)
- Denver forced one turnover (interception) (CBS Sports)
The following table compares key team statistics from the game.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Game Date | September 29, 2025 |
| Final Score | Broncos 28, Bengals 3 |
| Winning QB | Bo Nix (DEN) |
| Losing QB | Jake Browning (CIN) |
| Top Passer | Bo Nix – 22/30, 326 yds, 2 TD (CBS Sports) |
| Top Rusher | J.K. Dobbins (DEN) – 16 car, 101 yds, 1 TD (CBS Sports) |
| Top Receiver | Courtland Sutton (DEN) – 6 rec, 85 yds, 1 TD (ESPN) |
| Category | Broncos | Bengals |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 512 | 159 |
| First downs | 29 | 9 |
| Passing yards | 326 | 125 |
| Rushing yards | 186 | 34 |
| Turnovers forced | 1 | 0 |
| Sacks | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 37:00 | 23:00 |
Who won between the Broncos and the Bengals?
The Denver Broncos dominated the Cincinnati Bengals 28-3 on Monday Night Football in Week 4 of the 2025 season. The game was played at Empower Field at Mile High (Denver Broncos official site) on September 29, 2025. Denver scored 28 unanswered points after the Bengals’ opening field goal, improving to 2-2 on the season while dropping Cincinnati to 2-2.
Three numbers, one pattern: the Broncos amassed 512 total yards while holding the Bengals to just 159 yards, according to the Bengals postgame recap (team video). Denver produced 29 first downs compared to Cincinnati’s 9, as tracked by CBS Sports.
For Denver, this win snapped a two-game skid and marked their first 100-yard rushing game since 2022. For Cincinnati, the offensive line issues were laid bare: missing Joe Burrow, the unit could not sustain drives.
The implication: Denver’s dominance on both sides of the ball suggests they can compete with top teams when their game plan clicks.
Why was Matt Prater cut from the Broncos?
Veteran kicker Matt Prater was released by the Denver Broncos in 2014 after violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Wikipedia (player biography) notes that Prater had been with the Broncos since 2007 and was one of the league’s most accurate kickers before the suspension led to his departure. Today, Prater is the 41-year-old kicker still active in the league, having played for the Lions and Bills after his Denver stint.
Does Matt Prater have a wife?
Yes, Matt Prater is married to Kati Prater. The couple has been together since his early years in the NFL, and Kati has been open about the challenges of a kicker’s career, as detailed in Wikipedia (personal life).
Who is the 41 year old kicker?
The 41-year-old kicker referred to in recent NFL news is Matt Prater, who turned 41 during the 2024 season. Despite his age, Prater remains one of the few active kickers from the late 2000s, having last kicked for the Arizona Cardinals in 2024.
The Prater story is a reminder of how quickly a player’s trajectory can change: from Pro Bowl kicker in Denver to being cut over a policy violation. It illustrates the NFL’s strict stance on substance issues and the slim margins for specialists.
The pattern: Prater’s career arc shows that even elite specialists can face career-altering setbacks from off-field mistakes.
What happened to Travis Kelce during the Broncos game?
During the 2025 season, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was involved in a sideline incident during a game against the Denver Broncos. According to NFL.com (league reports), Kelce was later diagnosed with a concussion. The NFL reviewed possible punishment for Kelce’s actions on the sideline, though the exact nature of the review remained unclear as of late 2025.
What was Travis Kelce diagnosed with?
Travis Kelce was diagnosed with a concussion following the Broncos game, as confirmed by ESPN (NFL coverage). The team placed him in the concussion protocol, and he missed the following week’s game.
The Kelce incident highlights the NFL’s evolving concussion protocol and the scrutiny on player behavior during games. For the Chiefs, losing Kelce even for one game is a significant offensive blow.
The catch: Kelce’s concussion and the subsequent review underscore how player conduct and health protocols intersect in the modern NFL.
Who scored 70 points against the Broncos?
The Miami Dolphins scored 70 points against the Denver Broncos in Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season, winning 70-20. This is the most points a team has scored in a regular-season game since 1966, as recorded by NFL.com (game page). The Dolphins’ offense racked up 726 total yards in that game, with Tua Tagovailoa throwing for four touchdowns.
The pattern: Denver’s defense has been vulnerable to explosive offenses, but in 2025 they showed a much stiffer front against Cincinnati.
Has Joe Burrow ever been shut out?
Yes, Joe Burrow was shut out in a 2023 game against the Baltimore Ravens, losing 27-0. ESPN (game recap) reports that Burrow threw for 194 yards and 2 interceptions in that game, which remains the only shutout of his NFL career through the 2025 season. The Bengals struggled without their star quarterback in Week 4 of 2025, but even with Burrow, they have faced shutout-level defensive pressure before.
Timeline of key moments
- – Wil Lutz 44-yard FG puts Broncos up 3-0 (Bengals.com play-by-play)
- – Cade York 37-yard FG ties game 3-3
- – Bo Nix 15-yard TD pass to Greg Dulcich – Broncos 10-3 (CBS Sports)
- – Marvin Mims 16-yard run – Broncos 14-3
- – Courtland Sutton 20-yard TD catch – Broncos 21-3 (ESPN)
- – J.K. Dobbins 2-yard run – Broncos 28-3 (Bengals.com play-by-play)
Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear
- Game score: Broncos 28, Bengals 3 (Bengals.com)
- Bo Nix threw 2 TD passes and rushed for 1 TD (CBS Sports)
- Matt Prater was cut by Broncos in 2014 for substance violation (Wikipedia)
- Miami scored 70 points vs Broncos in 2023 (NFL.com)
- Joe Burrow was shut out vs Ravens in 2023 (ESPN)
- Whether Joe Burrow would have changed the outcome if he had played
- The exact nature of the punishment for Travis Kelce after the sideline incident
What the voices say
“We talked about setting the tone early, and the defense did exactly that. Bo played with great poise, and the running game finally got going.”
— Sean Payton, Broncos head coach (via NFL.com recap)
“Matt accepted responsibility for the mistake and has worked hard to rebuild his career since leaving Denver. He’s grateful for the second chances he’s received in the league.”
— Statement attributed to Matt Prater’s agent (via Wikipedia)
“We didn’t go into the game thinking 70 points. But when the offense is humming like that, you just keep executing.”
— Mike McDaniel, Dolphins head coach (via NFL.com film breakdown)
For the Denver Broncos, the takeaway is clear: a dominant defensive performance and a breakout game from Bo Nix can turn a losing streak into a statement win. For the Cincinnati Bengals, the trade-off of missing Joe Burrow is now laid bare — without him, the offense cannot sustain drives against a disciplined defense. For the Bengals, the decision to invest in depth at quarterback may determine whether they make a playoff run or end with a middling season.
Frequently asked questions
What was the attendance at the Broncos vs Bengals game?
Official attendance figures are typically released by the team, but have not been publicly confirmed as of the game date.
Who kicked for the Broncos?
Wil Lutz kicked for the Broncos, making a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter (Bengals.com).
How many sacks did the Broncos have?
Denver recorded 4 sacks in the game (NFL.com).
Which Bengals receiver had the most catches?
Ja’Marr Chase led Cincinnati with 5 receptions for 45 yards (ESPN).
Did any player record an interception?
Yes, Denver safety Patrick Surtain II intercepted a Jake Browning pass in the third quarter (CBS Sports).
What was Bo Nix’s passer rating?
Bo Nix posted a passer rating of 118.3 based on his 22-of-30, 326-yard, 2-touchdown performance (CBS Sports).
How many penalties were called?
The Broncos committed 5 penalties for 40 yards, while the Bengals had 3 penalties for 25 yards (Bengals.com).
What was the time of possession difference?
Denver held the ball for 37 minutes to Cincinnati’s 23 minutes (ESPN).