Final score predictions for Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Will it be Bo Nix or Jake Browning who bounces back on Monday night?

The conclusion to Week 4 of the NFL regular season will feature the Denver Broncos hosting the Cincinnati Bengals for the second leg of a "Monday Night Football" doubleheader.

Both AFC clubs are coming off tough losses of significantly different degrees. Denver lost to the Los Angeles Chargers by a field goal at the buzzer last Sunday. A few hours earlier, Cincinnati got its doors blown off by the Minnesota Vikings in the form of a 38-point defeat, the worst loss in franchise history.

Which team will bounce back and notch a conference win? A handful of our NFL writers have made their predictions below.

Broncos 24, Bengals 17

Despite the Bengals having the better record in this matchup, I think it’s pretty clear that the Broncos should win this game. Sure, they’ve lost their last two games, but both of those games could have easily went their way at the end of the game, and we could be talking about a 3-0 team.

With Cincy having its backup QB in Jake Browning, a poor offensive line, some poor aspects on defense, Denver should handle this matchup fairly easily. Vance Joseph's defense is going to have a field day with that offensive lined and to make matters even better, their only avenue of scoring efficiently in Ja’Marr Chase, will be guarded by the best defensive player in the NFL in Patrick Surtain II.

Denver has to get its offense going, though, or this could easily be a game that they let slip away at the end.

— Justin Churchill, A to Z Las Vegas

Broncos 28, Bengals 17

I expected a bit of regression from Broncos QB Bo Nix in Year 2, because that's what often happens with quarterbacks who start with a lot of success as rookies. NFL defensive coordinators have a whole year of tape to diagnose and assess, taking away the things you're good at, and then it's up to the coaches and players to adjust.

What I didn't anticipate was that the defense has seemingly taken a step back as well. Regardless, Denver is in a much better spot with its starting quarterback still on the field. The Bengals can't say the same with Joe Burrow out with a turf toe injury.

While Browning does have experience, asking him to get a road win in primetime against a team that finds itself against the ropes? That's a tough ask. If the Broncos' defense can shade coverage to Chase's side of the field and keep pressure on Browning, they should be able to do enough in this one.

—Charles Goldman, A to Z Kansas City

Broncos 26, Bengals 20

Confidence in Browning moving forward hinges on this game. Denver has a solid defense from its dynamic duo off the edge in Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, to the game's best cover corner in Surtain. There's no hope for Browning and Co. if they look like what last Sunday showed in Minnesota.

Fortunately for all of us watching, I think they'll show a little more fight this time around. For all his faults as a head coach, Zac Taylor can usually galvanize his troops to respond swiftly after embarrassing performances. Often, it has resulted in wins, but he has had Joe Burrow operating his offense. He's still got Browning for the next three months.

The Bengals will look better on offense, but the Broncos have the better quarterback and more reliability in the trenches. Unless Browning proves the first point wrong, I see the home team taking this one.

— John Sheeran, A to Z Cincinnati

Broncos 28, Bengals 17

Nix has been off to a rough start to the NFL season. Through three weeks, he comes in at dead last when looking at quarterbacks under pressure, and even without, he's the third worst in the league when given a clean pocket. Some long ball misses during the loss to the Chargers could've ultimately swung the favor back in Denver's way, and that's exactly what's going to happen on Monday night.

The Bengals are reeling after a Browning-led offense was embarrassed in Week 3, with Burrow being out for the foreseeable future. One area that Denver doesn't struggle with is getting after the quarterback. Nine defenders with at least 30 pass rush snaps have a pressure rate of 20% or higher, with three of them being on Denver's defense in Bonitto, Cooper, and Jonah Elliss.

After back-to-back weeks of losing in the final moments from a field goal, Denver gets in the win column in a thrilling Week 4 game where Nix silences some critics along the way.

—Adam Zientek, A to Z Denver

Final Prediction for Broncos vs. Bengals

We got a clean sweep for the Broncos here. The spread is -7.5 for the home team, and only one brave soul (myself) has the road underdog covering.

We're expecting a win for Denver, and a relatively comfortable one at that.