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The long road to the 2014 NFL playoffs is nearly at its end. But at 11-3 and 9-4-1 respectively, the Broncos and Bengals still have two games to play.
Their next one is against one another, and appropriately, it's on Monday Night Football, with plenty of playoff scenarios at stake.
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"It’s beginning to have a little bit of a playoff feel the last few weeks because it’s that time of year," Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said. "You’re jockeying for position and you’re essentially playing teams that are going to be in the playoffs, that are fighting for that spot. So it has that kind of feel down to the last few weeks and it’ll continue Monday night."
The end of the season also means the injury list is piling up, and the Broncos seem as ailed as anybody, with their star quarterback Peyton Manning headlining the list (he's questionable with a thigh injury).
"I think every team in the NFL is probably about the same," offensive coordinator Adam Gase said. "If you would put everybody’s injury report against each other, they’re probably going to look similar. This is a long season. That’s why the NFL is tough—to make it this far and have success and carry it through to the next part of the season. It’s a difficult run to have to really have a lot of wins and make it to the playoffs."
For the Bengals, it's win and they're in. For the Broncos, a win will clinch a first round playoff bye.
Game time
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Mile High time (8:30 p.m. EST) at Paul Brown Stadium on Monday, December 22, 2014.
TV schedule
The game will air on ESPN's Monday Night Football, the last edition of MNF of the 2014 season. Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Jon Gruden (color commentary) will call the game with Lisa Salters reporting from the sideline.
If you're in the Denver area, you can catch the game on KTVD Channel 20 (thanks to Brad in the comments).
View our Broncos-Bengals TV broadcast map to confirm you will certainly see the game if you have ESPN.
Online streaming
Monday Night Football is streamed on the WatchESPN app (to ESPN/cable subscribers). Verizon subscribers can tap into NFL Mobile. At a premium, you can stream the game after the final whistle blows from NFL.com using Game Rewind. You can also listen live using streaming audio from NFL.com.
Radio
Listen around Denver at 850 AM KOA and nationwide at Sirius 93. Dave Logan (play-by-play) and Ed McCaffrey (color commentary) will call the game with Alan Roach reporting from the sidelines. View the full Denver Broncos radio network here.
Nationally, Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Kurt Warner (color commentary) will call the game on WestwoodOne with Laura Okmin reporting from the sidelines.
Fun fact
Peyton Manning is 8-0 all-time vs. the Bengals. In fact, all the all-time great QBs have seemed to dominate Cincinnati.
Injury report
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is easily the biggest name on the list; he's questionable with a thigh. For the Broncos, Emmanuel Sanders (illness) and Ryan Clady (thigh) are also both questionable, putting some of the Broncos' key offensive playmakers in 50-50 status.
For the Bengals, A.J. Green recovered from an illness early in the week and is expected to play.
Follow it live
Live Chat: MileHighReport.com during the game
Twitter: Follow @MileHighReport
Facebook: Mile High Report
Enemy blog: Cincy Jungle
Odds
The Broncos are 3.5-point favorites against the Bengals on the road.
Tell us your predictions for the game in the comments!
To buy tickets, visit the NFL Ticket Exchange.