Denver @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 19, 2017 ) Cincinnati 20, Denver 17

The Denver Broncos have remained on the outer fringe of the postseason bubble with back-to-back wins over potential playoff teams while the Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in the same location after dropping three straight games. The Broncos and Bengals bid to improve their standing at the other's expense on Sunday when they meet at Paul Brown Stadium.

"Right now we're 5-6. That's where we are," Denver coach Vance Joseph said. "... Most teams would lose their minds and not work hard, but we haven't done that so the reward for sticking together and having great chemistry is coming now." Joseph saw his bend-but-don't-break defense overcome 462 passing yards to Ben Roethlisberger in Sunday's 24-17 victory over Pittsburgh, improving the Broncos to 2-1 in a dizzying three-game stretch that involved teams that had faced the Broncos with at least a five-game winning streak. While Denver emerged from its bye with promise, Cincinnati returned from its off week by surrendering 110 points with lopsided losses against New Orleans and Cleveland sandwiching a three-point setback at Baltimore. Adding injury to insult, backup Jeff Driskel will receive his first NFL start against the Broncos after fellow quarterback Andy Dalton sustained a season-ending thumb issue in Sunday's 35-20 setback to the Browns.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Broncos -4.5. O/U: 44

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (5-6): Case Keenum could pick up the pace after throwing for just 402 yards over his last two contests when he tests his mettle versus a Cincinnati defense that is hemorrhaging league-worst totals in points per game (31.5) and total yards (439.6). Trusted target Emmanuel Sanders found the end zone last week and has four touchdowns in his last two trips to the Queen City while speedy rookie Phillip Lindsay has five of his six rushing touchdowns in his last five outings. While the offense has shown signs of improvement, the generous defense has been gashed for 479 total yards in a 23-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 18 and 527 versus the Steelers. "The yardage, you have to kind of ignore it, and that's tough for us to do," Joseph said. "A thousand yards in two weeks for our defense, that's tough, but 19.5 (points allowed per game) and seven takeaways, you've got to take it and be happy about it, I guess, right?"

ABOUT THE BENGALS (5-6): Driskel, who is faster and more athletic than Dalton, passed for 155 yards and a touchdown as well as ran for a score after entering Sunday's game in the third quarter. The 25-year-old tossed a 28-yard scoring strike to Tyler Boyd in that stanza and likely will see the return on Sunday of seven-time Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Green, who has missed the last three games with a toe injury. "With this injury it just took time to heal," the 30-year-old Green said. "(And) me getting mentally ready to where I could go out there and play at a high level and not just be out there limping around." Joe Mixon erupted for 155 scrimmage yards (89 rushing, 66 receiving) versus the Browns and has totaled 664 and four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) in six home games this season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cincinnati DE Carlos Dunlap, whose seven sacks are tied with DT Geno Atkins for the team lead, has seven sacks in his past four encounters with Denver.

2. Broncos LB Von Miller has collected 6.5 of his team-leading 11 sacks in his past six contests.

3. Cincinnati S Shawn Williams has recorded three of his club-best four interceptions in his last five games.

PREDICTION: Broncos 24, Bengals 20