MNF Odds: Cincinnati Bengals Underdogs Against Denver Broncos

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

It will be the battle of backup quarterbacks on Monday night with AJ McCarron and Brock Osweiler going head-to-head at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals are considered to be two of the better teams in the AFC this season. Cincinnati has already punched their ticket to the postseason, but despite a 10-4 record, Denver has yet to clinch a playoff spot.

Along with all the controversy surrounding Peyton Manning and his off-the-field issues, the Broncos will need to brush off the distractions to get a win at home on Monday to begin concentrating on the postseason.

According to Sportsbook.ag, the Broncos are slightly favored to get the win over the visiting Bengals on Monday Night Football. Denver is sporting a -3.5 point spread heading into this matchup of AFC heavyweights and should come away with the victory if Osweiler can continue to play well in place of Manning.

The main reason for the Broncos’ success this season has been their play on the defensive side of the football. Denver is among the elite class in the NFL on the defensive side of the football, and that dominance defensively should be enough to propel them to victory against a team led by a backup quarterback.

Although Osweiler is in the same situation as McCarron, it seems as though Manning’s presence over the last few years has paid dividends for the young gunslinger. Osweiler will be able to do enough under center on Monday to keep the Broncos ahead of the Bengals while Denver’s defense holds AJ Green and company in check all night long.

This matchup between two playoff-caliber teams will be one of the better games on Monday Night Football this season with the Broncos more than likely pulling out the victory while covering the -3.5 point spread.