Denver must snap its skid on Monday Night Football against Cincinnati. Luke Wattenberg needs a clean rebound at center, diagnosing stunts and protecting Bo Nix to jumpstart a zone-heavy run game. RJ Harvey should be featured more as a receiving option out of the backfield to balance the attack and spare the rookie in the ground game. Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto have to bring sustained edge pressure, exploiting Bengals tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims. A cleaner line, smarter backfield usage, and tighter rush discipline could flip the game in Denver’s favor.

Payton’s plans hinge on Wattenberg’s growth, Harvey’s versatility as a pass catcher, and Cooper/Bonitto delivering pressure on Jake Browning. If Denver can translate interior protection into a dependable short-passing rhythm and turn quick pressures into sacks, they’ll carve out a pivotal win and steady their season trajectory.