Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals: prediction, preview, pick to win

Denver Broncos (2-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at Paul Brown Stadium. TV: CBS, Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn.

SERIES HISTORY: 30th regular-season meeting. Broncos lead series, 20-9. Broncos have won five of the last six. The most historic meeting between these teams was on Oct. 22, 2000, when Cincinnati running back Corey Dillon ran for a then-league-record 278 yards in the Bengals' 31-21 upset.

GAMEDATE: 9/25/16

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Bengals' offense has been one-dimensional through the first two weeks, with Andy Dalton leading the league in passing yards without any semblance of a running game. That won't suffice against the Broncos, who have the NFL's top defense so far. Denver is allowing only 83.6 rushing yards and the Bengals will need to find a way to establish a running to take pressure off Dalton and help them extend drives.

The quick-hit passing game that worked well in the opener against the New York Jets could be useful Sunday if the running game isn't working. Look for a concerted effort by the Bengals to run the ball early and for pass rushers Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins to try to disrupt young Broncos QB Trevor Siemian, who has played well in his first two games.

For the Broncos to control the game, they will have to continue having the balance and consistency they've displayed in their drives the last two weeks, while adding greater efficiency in scoring range. Twelve of the Broncos' 18 possessions have crossed the opponent's 30-yard line, but just four have ended in touchdowns, with another four field goals giving the Broncos 40 of a possible 84 points.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Broncos CBs Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby and Chris Harris Jr. vs. Bengals WR A.J. Green. Although Green is one of four Bengals with at least 100 receiving yards so far this season, he's not the only target the Broncos will have to watch. In the teams' Week 16 meeting last year, Talib, Roby and Harris took turns covering Green. Green scored once but averaged just 11.4 yards per reception, with no catches covering more than 17 yards with AJ McCarron at quarterback.

--Broncos offensive line vs. Cincinnati DT Geno Atkins. With right tackle Donald Stephenson out this week because of a calf injury, the domino effect of position changes could leave right guard in flux, which could leave Atkins targeting that spot. When Stephenson left last week, Michael Schofield moved outside to right tackle, leaving Darrion Weems at right guard. Weems struggled, allowing pressures on Trevor Siemian while not getting much of a push against the Colts' defensive line. Ty Sambrailo's expected return from an elbow injury could put him back at right guard -- where he started training camp -- or at right tackle, which would move Schofield back inside to right guard, where he fared well in Week 1.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: DE Derek Wolfe isn't a Pro Bowler -- yet. But he's emerging as one of the best interior pass rushers in the game, and he has maintained his presence despite the loss of Malik Jackson, with whom he tag-teamed for most of his big plays in the previous two seasons. Wolfe has 9.5 sacks in his last 12 games, including 1.5 in last week's win over Indianapolis.

FAST FACTS: Denver RB C.J. Anderson aims for his fifth game in a row with a rushing TD. He has 219 scrimmage yards and two rushing TDs in two career meetings. ... Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton leads the NFL with 732 passing yards. He has 16 TD passes vs. five interceptions in his past nine home games. ... Bengals RB Giovani Bernard had career-high nine catches for 100 yards and a TD last week. He caught a TD pass in his last home game vs. Denver as well.

PREDICTION: If the Bengals can't create some offensive balance, they won't have a chance against Denver's No. 1 defense.

OUR PICK: Broncos, 20-13.

--Chris Cluff