A look at Broncos-Bengals through the years

Good morning, Broncos Country!

We will find out in a few hours if the Denver Broncos have kept the 2017 season alive or have embraced the tank. Hopefully it’s the latter.

For the former to come to fruition the Broncos must win today. They have to finally put these great practices we’ve heard about the last five weeks to actually show on the field for a game. In case you wondering, Denver is on a five-game losing streak despite those incredible practice sessions.

The Cincinnati Bengals enter in much the same fashion as the Broncos. Both teams are 3-6, and the loser of this game may get the better of the deal given the place that team will choose in the NFL Draft.

Before these two teams meet today at Mile High Stadium, let’s look back at the history of this rivalry. The notes are courtesy of Denver’s weekly release.

• Today marks the 31st regular-season game between the Bengals and Broncos. Denver is 21-9 in the series; 13-2 at home and 8-7 on the road. The first game in the series was Sept. 15, 1968, in Cincinnati. The Bengals won 24-10.
• The most recent game between the Bengals and Broncos was last season, Sept. 25, 2016, when Denver won in the Queen City, 29-17. That improved the Broncos current win streak to two games. Denver's longest winning streak in the series is eight games, Oct. 16,1983-Nov. 1, 1998.
• The longest winning streak for the Bengals in this series is two games, which they've done twice. The most recent was Nov. 9, 1975-Sept. 12, 1976. The last home win for the Broncos in this series was Dec. 28, 2015, when DeMarcus Ware recovered a fumble to seal the 20-17 win.

• The last time the Bengals beat the Broncos in Denver was Nov. 9, 1975, when they won 17-16. The last Denver win in Cincy was last season, obviously. The last Broncos loss on the road was Dec. 22, 2014, when the Bengals won 37-28.
• The Broncos have one shutout in this series, a 10-0 win on Sept. 2, 1979, at Mile High Stadium. The Bengals have no shutouts in this series.
• The most points the Broncos have scored in the series is 45 when they beat the Bengals 45-14 on Sept. 1, 1999, in Denver. The most points for the Bengals is 38 in a 38-21 win on Nov. 22, 1981, in Cincy. I was 4 months, 2 days old.
• The largest Broncos win is 31 points in that 45-14 game in 1999. Right one cue, the largest Bengals win is 17 from that 38-21 game in 1981. The most points for both teams is 65 from the 37-28 Bengals win in 2014. The fewest is 10 from Denver's 10-0 shutout win in 1979.
• The Broncos and Bengals have never met in the playoffs. Though that game from Dec. 2015 was damn near a playoff game for Denver. That Ware fumble recovery was another sign that was the season for Broncos Country. What a magical season that was.
• Von Miller needs two sacks to become the first player in Broncos history with six 10-sack seasons. He also can join Simon Fletcher (5, 1989-93) and Paul Smith (4, 1970-73) as the only three players in team history with four consecutive 10-sack seasons.

• Since I started doing this, this is the part that still blows my mind. Domata Peko will extend his starting streak to 122 games — the longest active streak by an NFL defensive lineman. BTW, he's playing his former team Bengals for the first time today.
• Demaryius Thomas needs six catches to become the sixth active player to reach 600 career receptions. He also needs one receiving touchdown to tie Shannon Sharpe for second place on the Broncos all-time list behind Rod Smith (68).
• Former Broncos head coach Red Miller will be officially inducted as the 32nd member of the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame during a halftime ceremony on Sunday. Former linebacker Tom Jackson will speak during that ceremony.

Miller joins Dan Reeves as the only head coaches in the Broncos Ring of Fame, which was created by owner Pat Bowlen in 1984 to honor former players and administrators who played significant roles in the franchise’s history.

Hired as the eighth head coach in Broncos history on Feb. 1, 1977, Miller compiled a 40-22 regular-season record and a 2-3 playoff mark from 1977-80. He never had a losing record in his four seasons with the Broncos, & his total wins ranks fourth in team history.

Miller’s 1977 team was 12-2 and won Denver’s first AFC West title. After earning their inaugural playoff berth, the Broncos went on to beat the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship Game and advanced to their first Super Bowl. Miller passed away on Sept. 27. He was 89.

Broncos Tracks

NFL Week 11: Bengals vs Broncos rivalry began in a surprising place - Cincy Jungle
The two teams have had some exciting contests throughout the years.

Three Keys to Broncos-Bengals
If the Broncos are to stop their skid and turn around their season, a fast start could be crucial Sunday against Cincinnati.

Red Miller's pillar unveiled at Ring of Fame Plaza
The late head coach who brought the Broncos their first taste of true success joined the franchise's legends at a Friday night ceremony.

Where Are They Now: Charley Johnson
Jim Saccomano catches up with Renaissance man Charley Johnson, who became a professor at his alma mater after his NFL career ended.

Mason's Mailbag: Team's history shows tough times usually don't linger
The Broncos are in a rough patch right now, but turnarounds have usually come in short order, which is how you have more conference titles than losing seasons over a 40-year period.

Denver Broncos cling to what might be last hope to turn their season - NFL Nation- ESPN
The 3-6 Broncos, whose final seven foes are a combined 28-37, are remaining optimistic on making a late-season run that will lead to a playoff berth.

Woody Paige: Does John Elway want a do-over on coaching choices? - Denver7 TheDenverChannel.com
If John Elway, who is a world-class amateur golfer, was given a mulligan, would he now pick Vance Joseph or Kyle Shanahan, or somebody else?

Broncos special teams boss Brock Olivo admits he 'deserves vitriol' - Denver7 TheDenverChannel.com
Broncos special teams coach Brock Olivo says vitriol’s deserved after last week’s meltdown.

6 Broncos players who deserve your Pro Bowl vote | Broncos Wire
These six Denver Broncos players deserve your Pro Bowl vote, including superstar linebacker Von Miller.

Bengals Tracks

Broncos’ Domata Peko talks facing the Bengals with “chip on my shoulder” - Cincy Jungle
Broncos defensive tackle Domata Peko and head coach Vance Joseph are looking to end their team’s losing streak against a team they both know very well: the Bengals.

NFL Week 11 Bengals at Broncos: 5 keys to a Cincinnati victory - Cincy Jungle
The Bengals’ 2017 season hangs in the balance as they travel to Mile High Stadium to take on the Broncos. What do they need to achieve in order to get to 4-6?

Bengals injury news: Tyler Eifert has cyst removed from knee - Cincy Jungle
What part of Tyler Eifert’s body is healthy right now?

Bengals roster news: Pat Sims cut, Hardy Nickerson promoted - Cincy Jungle
The Bengals have cut Sims, who was already ruled out for Sunday’s game with an injury.

Giovani Bernard's nosedive mirrors Cincinnati Bengals' offense - NFL Nation- ESPN
With the Bengals' inability to move the ball, limiting Giovani Bernard's touches, the veteran back has extra pressure to make his opportunities count.

The Cincinnati Bengals should use the rest of 2017 season to experiment
With a season on the brink of an era, it's time to use the last seven games as a laboratory.

AFC West Tracks

Don’t Blame the Defense for the Collapse in Jacksonville - Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers need a lot more from other parts of the team if they want to win games.

More Hunter Henry part of fixing Los Angeles Chargers' struggles
The Chargers' offense has slipped, and getting tight end Hunter Henry more involved is one way to get things back on track.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers cleared to play Sunday against the Bills - LA Times
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers will play on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills after clearing the NFL’s concussion protocol program Friday afternoon.

Chargers' Darius Philon living the dream after learning to take setbacks in stride - LA Times
Darius Philon sat on stage in front of his friends and peers at Vigor High School in Mobile, Ala., with a crimson red Alabama baseball cap sitting in front of him.

Alex Smith says Chiefs goals are still within reach - Arrowhead Pride
Andy Reid said earlier this week that the Kansas City Chiefs are in good shape coming off the bye week at 6-3. It may be hard to hear that coming off three losses in their last four but 6-3...

Fixing the Chiefs | The Kansas City Star
The Chiefs have won just one of four after a 5-0 start. Much of that is because the offense has slowed. So what happened? And how can it be fixed?

Chiefs looking for more playmaking, better tackling from secondary | The Kansas City Star
When NFL teams lose a block of games in a short amount of time — as the KC Chiefs have done in losing three of their last four — things can start getting tense internally. The Chiefs’ issues on defense aren’t necessarily easy to identify. But they’re trying.

So-called 'Hill Mary' is something the Chiefs practice regularly
When it's TD or bust, one play the Chiefs like is sort of a designed punt return that takes advantage of Tyreek Hill's speed and open-field instincts.

Patriots defense bends (a LOT), but to win Raiders must break them - Silver And Black Pride
Don’t let the stats that say the Patriots have the worst defense in the league fool you.

Patriots' Brady takes aim at leaky Raiders' pass defense
Having spent all season making average quarterbacks look good, next up is an all-time great.

What Oakland Raiders defender can step up to help Khalil Mack?
The Raiders' pass-rusher has only half a sack in the past five games, and Oakland is tied for the fewest in the NFL.

Raiders look to ignore gloss of Patriots matchup – Las Vegas Review-Journal
A matchup with the Patriots carries a certain mystique to it. But on Sunday, the Raiders know they cannot afford to get caught up in the gloss. Regardless of opponent, they need to win.

How the NFL's first attempt to play in Mexico City went south -- and then back north
Playing in Mexico is old hat for the NFL today, but the league's first attempt to do so in 1968 didn't go as planned. It's a tale of violent protests, a nimble ticket salesman, a QB's broken leg and an old-school football brawl.

NFL Tracks

NFL picks 2017, Week 11: Experts split over Patriots, Saints games - SBNation.com
Our panel convenes for another week of NFL games and can’t miss picks!

NFL investigating Jameis Winston for allegedly groping Uber driver - SBNation.com
The league will look into the matter to determine if there was a violation of its personal conduct policy.

Jerry Jones threatened to go after Roger Goodell ‘with everything I have’ - SBNation.com
This all comes back to Ezekiel Elliott, and Jones isn’t likely to let this go.

Jerry Jones is fighting Roger Goodell for control of the NFL - SBNation.com
A handy guide to the battle that could reshape pro football.

Browns defense hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher or 300-yard passer - SBNation.com
They’re the only team in the NFL that hasn’t.

NFL Week 11 kickoff times, TV channel info, game breakdowns
Here's everything you need to know in order to get set for Sunday.

FPI projects best, most important games of NFL Week 11
The first 2017 meeting between the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles and division-rival Dallas Cowboys tops the watchability list for Week 11, per ESPN Football Power Index's matchup quality metrics.

NFL IQ quiz Week 11: Time to test your football knowledge - NFL.com
Welcome to the Weekly NFL IQ Quiz, testing your knowledge as we head into Week 11 of the 2017 season. Think you know your stuff? Give it a go!

Week 11 Preview: Hey, There Might Be Some Good NFL Games - The Ringer
Somehow Case Keenum and Jared Goff headline Sunday’s best matchup

NFL playoff picture: Standings, matchups entering Week 11 | SI.com
Here's everything you need to know about the NFL playoff picture as it stands entering Week 11.