Preview, playoff implications and how to watch

The 9-6 Denver Broncos and 7-8 Cincinnati Bengals meet this afternoon in the second of three Saturday NFL football games.

It’s unseasonably hot in Cincinnati — with temperatures just below 60 degrees at kickoff at Paycor Stadium. The Bengals, who have won three in a row, will need to stay hot just to stay in the mix for the playoffs.

Playoff implications for Bengals and Broncos

This is a must-win game for quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals. If they lose to the Broncos, their playoff hopes are officially over. If they win, they will need to pick up another win in Week 18 to stay in contention for an AFC wild card spot.

This game is also consequential for the Broncos, but it is far less existential for them. A win would secure the seventh and final AFC playoff berth for the Broncos and QB Bo Nix in his stellar rookie year.

The 10-6 Chargers crushed the 3-13 Patriots earlier today 40-7 to clinch a playoff berth.

Expect an offensive showdown as Nix looks to exploit the porous Bengals defense and Burrow aims to shred the Broncos’ secondary with his passing accuracy.

Damage report

Bengals inactive

• Charlie Jones (WR)
• Andrew Stueber (OT)
• Tanner Hudson (TE)
• Sam Hubbard (DE)
• Sheldon Rankins (DT)

Denver Broncos inactive

• Zach Wilson (QB)*
• David Sills (WR)
• Blake Watson (RB)
• Levelle Bailey (ILB)
• Frank Crum (T)
• Matt Henningsen (DL)
• Eyioma Uwazurike (DL)

* Third emergency QB

How to watch the Broncos-Bengals game

The Broncos-Bengals game, which begins at 4:30 PM Eastern (2:30 PM Mountain/1:30 PM Pacific), airs exclusively on NFL Network. But you can also watch the game on NFL+, YouTube’s NFL Sunday Ticket or other streaming networks that offer NFL Network as part of a paid package.

Fans in home and away markets can watch their local affiliates. So that means viewers in the Denver area can watch on DENVER7 and viewers in Cincinnati can watch the game on Fox 19.

There are also additional free ways to watch the game through FUBO and Hulu trials. For more on how to do that, click here for more details.