Week 16 of the 2015 NFL season wraps up on Monday evening as the Denver Broncos host the Cincinnati Bengals in a Monday Night Football matchup that will have plenty of playoff implications. The game kicks off at 5:30 p.m. PT, and airs on ESPN. Jon Gruden, Mike Tirico, and Lisa Salters have the call. If you aren't in front of a television, you can watch the game via live stream on WatchESPN.
The Bengals clinched the AFC North thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers loss to Baltimore. However, a Bengals win clinches a first round bye as well. The Bengals are coming off a relatively easy win over the San Francisco 49ers. AJ McCarron had a solid game, and the team was able to get much-needed rest for a gimpy A.J. Green. McCarron faces a much stiffer test in his second start and third appearance this season. The Steelers and 49ers pass defenses are not nearly as good as Denver's.
The Broncos need a win to clinch just a playoff berth. They lead the AFC West by 1/2 game over the Kansas City Chiefs, but in a weird result due to various tiebreakers, the Chiefs clinched a playoff spot already. If the Broncos lose to the Bengals tonight, they will drop into a tie with the Chiefs, and be in danger of actually missing the playoffs entirely. If the Broncos win, they clinch a playoff berth, and maintain a one-game lead on the Chiefs.
Find everything you need to know about tonight's game below. This will serve as the game thread tonight.
Monday, Dec. 28
Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos
Start time: 5:30 PM PT
TV channel: ESPN
Announcers: Jon Gruden, Mike Tirico