Trey Hendrickson vs. Bo Nix: The Key Battle in Broncos vs. Bengals Monday Night Showdown
As the Denver Broncos prepare for their high-stakes Monday Night Football matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 29, 2025, all eyes will be on the key matchups that could determine the outcome of the game. While the Broncos are looking to break their two-game losing streak, the Bengals are hoping to continue their strong start to the season. Among the most crucial battles of the night, one stands out above the rest: Trey Hendrickson’s challenge against Bo Nix and the Broncos' offensive line.
Trey Hendrickson: The Bengals’ Defensive Force
Trey Hendrickson has emerged as one of the most dominant defensive forces in the NFL. The Cincinnati Bengals' star defensive end has been wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks, tallying two sacks and seven tackles already this season. Hendrickson’s ability to collapse the pocket and create pressure will be a major factor in the outcome of the game. His presence on the defensive line is enough to make even the most seasoned quarterbacks feel uneasy.
However, Broncos’ quarterback Bo Nix is no stranger to pressure. The dual-threat quarterback has been exceptional at extending plays with his legs, and his ability to scramble and make off-script throws will be crucial to keeping Hendrickson at bay. As the Bengals’ defense looks to neutralize Nix, his mobility and vision in the pocket will provide the Broncos with their best opportunity to control the game.
Bo Nix: Denver’s Dual-Threat Quarterback
Nix has shown glimpses of his dual-threat capability in the first few games of the season, and the Broncos are leaning heavily on his ability to both pass and rush the ball. In fact, Nix was the team’s leading rusher last season, showcasing his ability to make plays with his legs and extend drives when the pocket breaks down. His mobility will be critical in neutralizing the Bengals’ pass rush, and if Nix can avoid the pressure from Hendrickson, he could lead the Broncos to a much-needed win.
While Nix's rushing ability is a key asset, his performance in the passing game will ultimately determine the success of Denver’s offense. If the offensive line can provide him with solid protection, Nix will need to make quick decisions and spread the ball around to his weapons, including wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and tight end Greg Dulcich. The Broncos’ offense has struggled with penalties and inconsistency, but this game presents a unique opportunity to turn things around.
The Key to Victory: Limiting Self-Inflicted Mistakes
Both teams have struggled with penalties in recent games, and for the Broncos, this has been an area of concern. In their previous matchup, they were flagged 10 times for 90 yards, which stalled drives and gave the opponent favorable field position. Head coach Sean Payton and his staff will need to focus on discipline to avoid shooting themselves in the foot. If the Broncos can limit these self-inflicted mistakes and keep Hendrickson from dominating, they will have a shot at taking down the Bengals.
On the Bengals' side, the focus will be on maintaining their momentum. Hendrickson and his fellow defensive linemen will look to make life miserable for Nix, but with a strong game plan and some early success in the run game, the Broncos can control the clock and dictate the pace.
What to Watch For
As the game unfolds, keep an eye on the battle between Hendrickson and Nix. If the Broncos' offensive line can hold their ground and give Nix time to make plays, the Broncos will be in a strong position to pull off an upset. But if Hendrickson can break through the protection and disrupt Nix's rhythm, it could be a long night for the Broncos.
In the end, this game could come down to which quarterback handles the pressure better. Nix will need to show that he can make quick decisions, while Hendrickson will try to force him into mistakes. If the Broncos can manage to keep the Bengals’ pass rush at bay and take advantage of their offensive opportunities, they may just walk away with a victory.
This matchup is crucial for both teams as they continue to fight for playoff positioning. The Bengals’ defense and the Broncos' offense will face off in what promises to be an exciting and physical Monday Night Football showdown.
Is the Strength of the Buccaneers Their Defense Again?
Check the calendar Buccaneers’ fans, it might be 2020 again.
Through three weeks of football for the Buccaneers, I would argue one side of the ball has been outplaying the other. Last year this was also the case, just the opposite. The offense was clearly far ahead of the defense. It was top three in most categories as opposed to the defense being bottom three in most. While the gap isn’t that large so far, it is there. The defense has unfortunately not been consistent, but has still done more.
The biggest thing has been the run defense. While they haven’t faced the best competition on offense as of yet, they have faced some pretty good RBs. Bijan Robinson in week one and Breece Hall in week 3. And facing those guys (plus Nick Chubb in week 2) has led to the 5th best ypc allowed in 3.6. This is nothing new as the run defense has always been in a league of its own since Bowles arriving, but it is still worth mentioning. Even missing Calijah Kancey, the run defense has shown up. They will face arguably the biggest test next Sunday in Saquon Barkley.
And while the passing defense hasn’t put it all together, how about Jamel Dean? In coverage, Dean has been rated by PFF as the best corner in preventing separation. He is the 6th best CB in the whole NFL according to their grading. If you dont’t trust PFF, just watching him, you can see that every snap. Last game I cited how he only allowed one catch against the Jets. The whole season he has only allowed 6 receptions. The secondary as a whole has also been pretty good about blitzing from the secondary. Having a healthy Antoine Winfield will do that, but Jacob Parrish hasn’t been a slouch either.
But speaking of pass rush, it’s time to praise Yaya Diaby. He currently leads the league in QB pressures and has gotten 2 sacks this season. Against the Jets alone he had 11 pressures, which is insane. People have been constantly saying the Bucs pass rush has been ineffective. The biggest thing from last year was the Bucs couldn’t get pressure rushing 4. However, this year, they are 8th in pressure rate when rushing four or less.A huge upgrade. Yaya has been developing, and Haason Reddick on the other side has been very helpful.
There are a lot of valid reasons as to why the Bucs offense hasn’t been able to keep pace. Not only have they dealt with a ton of injuries, but they have faced some really good defenses. However, this is a good thing in my opinion. The defense has done some heavy lifting, but so far it has been able to carry it. So, when the offense is closer to full strength, that should lead to a well-balanced team. This is not to say the Bucs offense has been bad. I have been mostly impressed with how they’ve handled the injuries. Just right now, the defense has been better.
