Quick Hits: Bengals Embarrass Themselves Again On National Stage, 28-3, To Broncos

DENVER – The Bengals answered an historic blowout loss with another embarrassment on national television Monday night.

Bo Nix took advantage of an undisciplined, penalty-riddled Cincinnati defense, throwing for a career high 326 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Denver Broncos past the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, 28-3, in a penalty-marred game at Empower Field.

Ja’Marr Chase and head coach Zac Taylor had an extended exchange on the sideline as the Bengals could not get their offense on track for a second straight week and Chase was held to five catches on eight targets for just 23 yards. Following the first drive of the game that ended with a 26-yard Evan McPherson field goal, the Bengals punted on their next seven possessions.

The Broncos outgained the Bengals, 512-159, on the night, with 353-yard disparity marking the fourth-worst margin in that category in franchise history.

Nix finished 29-of-42 on the night as the Broncos (2-2) won for the second time in as many home games. The Bengals (2-2) lost their second straight without the injured Joe Burrow.

Cincinnati quarterback Jake Browning completed 14-of-25 passes for 125 yards and led an offense that was incapable of managing a first down for most of the first half and into the third quarter.

The Bengals went from the 14:08 mark of the second quarter to 6:11 remaining in the third without a first down. The Broncos finished with 29 first downs while the Bengals had nine.

It was another nightmare first half for Cincinnati, falling behind 21-3 at the half. The Bengals have been outscored 55-6 in the first of their last two blowout losses.

The Bengals appeared to show some fight when rookie Demetrius Knight picked off Nix in the end zone to stop a red zone chance for the Broncos on four-and-goal from the Cincinnati 1. But after the Bengals went three-and-out, the Broncos answered.

With Denver facing a third-and-10 from and its 33, the Bengals could not get to Nix, and the Denver quarterback connected on a 28-yard completion to Marvin Mims to the Cincinnati 39.

Four plays later, Nix found Courtland Sutton over the middle for a 20-yard touchdown with eight seconds to go in the half and a 21-3 lead at the half.

The sloppy undisciplined Bengals were flagged for 11 penalties (eight accepted) for 50 yards in the first half. Tee Higgins had a 38-yard completion wiped out by an illegal formation by right tackle Amarius Mims.

The Broncos were able to take full advantage of several Cincinnati mistakes, starting with a 24-yard punt by Ryan Rehkow that set up Denver’s first touchdown drive of 64 yards in nine plays. Nix ran six yards up the middle on a scramble for the score.

Marvin Mims added a 16-yard run for a score as Denver piled up 305 yards in the first half, highlighted by Nix’s 17-for-26 for 217 yards.