Bengals at Broncos, 6:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN
For the record: The Bengals improved to 11-3 with a 24-14 victory at San Francisco. They currently have the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff race, and can win the AFC North title by beating the Broncos (10-4).
Who’s hot: Cincinnati’s defensive line might be the NFL’s best. The Bengals have fearsome front, led by 6-foot-6, 280-pound Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins (6-1, 300). They have double-digit sacks this season. Atkins had two sacks at San Francisco.
Who’s not: Coming off a rookie season in which he gained more than 1,300 yards from scrimmage, Jeremy Hill was expected to become a great running back. But he’s having a rough season as a second-year pro, having rushed for only 635 yards and averaging just 3.4 yards per carry. His poor performance led to backup Giovani Bernard getting promoted over him.
Key stat: The Bengals were outgained 318 to 242 in total yards by San Francisco. They won the game by winning the turnover battle 4-1, including three interceptions thrown by 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert.
FYI: AJ McCarron, who will start Monday night’s game against the Broncos in place of the injured Andy Dalton (broken thumb), became the first former Alabama quarterback since 1987 to win a game as an NFL starter.
Injury report: Wide receiver A.J. Green suffered a back injury during the San Francisco game and did not return. He is Cincinnati’s best offensive weapon.
Quoteworthy: “Playing like this (at Denver), you get blown out.” — Hill, on the Cincinnati offense’s performance in McCarron’s first start. The Bengals ran the ball 36 times against the 49ers and gained only 68 yards.
Cameron Wolfe, The Denver Post
