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Broncos vs. Bengals: 3 things you need to know

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

The Denver Broncos (11-3) have already locked up their playoff spot, but Monday night's matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals (9-4-1) has them looking to earn a first-round bye as well. While the Bengals' post-season fate remains up in the air, they'd clinch a playoff berth with a win.

Here's what you need to know:

A battle in the trenches

With the Bengals' sixth-ranked rushing attack taking on the Broncos' second-ranked run defense, this game should be won and lost at the line of scrimmage.

The Bengals' backfield tandem of Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard has been one of the league's most productive, and they'll need to find a way to pick up consistent yards in this one.

Although Denver's secondary has struggled against the pass at times, too many third-and-longs will put this game squarely on the shoulders of quarterback Andy Dalton, and that's not where the Bengals find success.

If the Broncos can bottle up the run as well as they've done to this point, it could be a long game for the Bengals' offensive attack.

Peyton not himself

Of course, there is always the potential for Peyton Manning to completely take over a game regardless of the way the Broncos' defense plays, but the future Hall of Famer just hasn't been himself of late.

While his perceived struggles over the last three weeks may speak more to the lofty expectations he's created for himself, the downward trend in production is somewhat concerning heading into the postseason.

With the Broncos already having locked up a playoff spot, and quite possibly in position to rest their starters for at least half of next week's season finale, look for them to do everything possible to get Manning and the passing game back on track.

As productive as the running game has been at times, it is the passing attack that will dictate the Broncos' overall success in January.

Win and the Bengals are in

Although the AFC North title will come down to a Week 17 division battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals find themselves just one win away from clinching a playoff berth for the third consecutive season.

The Bengals could still qualify for the postseason should they lose both games, but they would then need both the San Diego Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens to lose their regular season finales.

The Bengals will certainly be looking to lock up their playoff spot before it gets to that point, and ending their struggles both in prime time and against a Peyton Manning-led team would provide some much-needed momentum as the regular season comes to a close.

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