DENVER — Three hours before Monday night’s game, an ominous sky covered most of the downtown neighborhoods that surround Empower Field at Mile High.

But the quirky weather in the Rocky Mountain regions can change on a whim, much like the Denver Broncos so far this season. They had lost back-to-back games — both coming on the last play — heading into their prime-time matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The sun eventually appeared before kickoff, and things looked much brighter for the home team in a 28-3 rout. The Broncos did it with a defense that showed its elite potential once again — albeit against an offense without injured quarterback Joe Burrow — and quarterback Bo Nix had his most complete game of the season as he notched his first 300-yard passing game (326) of the year.

There were issues, such as penalties (7 for 72 yards) — the Broncos entered this weekend’s games tied for the fourth-most penalty yardage, and Monday won’t help the totals as center Luke Wattenberg was flagged four times — and drops on offense, including two by wide receiver Troy Franklin.

But with the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles next on the docket and a trip to London the following week, the Broncos needed to regain their balance, especially Nix.

And Monday’s get-right win did just that.

Here are the most important things to know from Monday night for both teams:

What to make of the QB performance: Nix entered the weekend 26th in the league in QBR after a performance against the Chargers in Week 3, when he missed multiple big-play chances with overthrows to open receivers. The Broncos had a more reigned-in approach Monday, and Nix was far more settled. With a little more intention in the run game and throwing to Courtland Sutton — 81 yards receiving — Nix had a composed night overall. Save for an end zone interception late in the first half, he showed more settled footwork in the pocket and easily had his best passing game of the season. His 206 passing yards in Indianapolis in Week 2 had been his season high.

Most surprising performance: Tight end Evan Engram has dealt with calf and back injuries this season — he missed the Week 3 loss in Los Angeles — so he has not had a full docket of practice time in the team’s offense. But the Broncos’ biggest free agent acquisition on offense this past offseason is still in search of his bust-out game. By the end of the third quarter, Engram had three receptions for 18 yards and a drop on his six targets. The beleaguered Bengals’ defense struggled to get the Broncos off the field, but the Broncos will need to find ways to get Engram involved — meaning there will be games where they need more than four catches for 29 yards from him. Coach Sean Payton has said it is an important matchup to win in the middle of the field against nickel defenses.

Stat to know: J.K. Dobbins‘ 101-yard rushing effort ended a regular-season streak of 37 games for the Broncos without a 100-yard rusher. Latavius Murray had the last 100-yard rushing game for the Broncos in the 2022 season finale — 103 yards on Jan. 8, 2023, against the Chargers.

Troubling trend: It will be lost in what became a rather tidy get-well win, but when the Bengals finished their opening drive with a 26-yard field goal from Evan McPherson, it meant all four of the Broncos’ opponents had opening-drive field goals. The Broncos, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only teams in the league that have not scored first in a game this season. — Jeff Legwold

Next game: at Philadelphia Eagles (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

By winning their first two games of the season, the Bengals were off to their best start during coach Zac Taylor’s tenure. But that feels like a distant memory, even though it was just two weeks ago.

Last week, Cincinnati was handed its worst loss in franchise history, a 38-point defeat on the road against the Vikings. Monday’s loss to the Broncos didn’t feature the turnovers that plagued Cincinnati a week ago, but the longer the game went on, the more it carried the same vibe. Both games had one thing in common: The offense mustered just three points through the first three quarters.

But this defeat could be more concerning. This was as comprehensive a defeat as the Bengals have suffered in some time. Cincinnati’s offense never got rolling. The defense was gashed throughout the night. And the Bengals were whistled for 11 penalties for 65 yards, with several of those coming while the outcome was still in question. And it will not get any easier with games against NFC powers Detroit and Green Bay coming up next.

What to make of the QB performance: Jake Browning tried to be aggressive early and push the ball downfield, but through three quarters, he didn’t have a ton of success. During that span, he was 11-of-20 passing for 106 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. On throws of 10 or more air yards, Browning was 2-of-7 passing, according to Next Gen Stats. Other than one drive, the offense was out of sorts for a bulk of the evening. He finished 14-of-25 for 125 yards with no TDs or interceptions.

Troubling trend: The Bengals have been blown out in back-to-back first halves. In the past two games against Denver and Minnesota, Cincinnati was outscored a combined 55-6 in the first half, including 21-3 on Monday. Cincinnati was outgained by 210 yards in the first half as the Bengals surrendered more than 300 yards for the second time in the past three years.

Stat to know: Cincinnati’s offense was nonexistent in the middle of the game when Denver gained control. Excluding penalties, the Bengals gained 21 yards on 18 offensive plays during five full drives that spanned the first and third quarters. During Browning’s previous stint as a starting quarterback in 2023, Cincinnati’s offense was still effective. Through two games, that has not been the case. — Ben Baby

Next game: vs. Detroit Lions (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Sleepers still exist.

Payton Pritchard made the fifth-most 3-pointers in the NBA last season. Deni Avdija became an offensive force down the stretch last spring. Josh Giddey turned into a triple-double machine after the All-Star break.

Fantasy managers, rankings and the overall draft market are undoubtedly sharper these days, but the convergence of talent and opportunity will continue to deliver fun new names every season.

With value in mind, be sure to check out our staff’s roundtable on sleepers, breakouts, and busts, where I nominate Kevin Porter Jr. as a notable backcourt sleeper given what could be a rewarding workload for the new-look Milwaukee Bucks.

With a lens on finding players who have potential to outproduce expectations, the focus of this list is on players found outside the top 100 picks on average in ESPN live drafts.

Zach Edey, C, Memphis Grizzlies: Patience is required with Edey. The massive Memphis center is set to miss time with a significant ankle injury. Once back, he could command an awesome workload as a focal point in Tuomas Iisalo’s offense. Edey’s pace and usage working with Ja Morant were encouraging last season, suggesting there’s room for the young big to become a two-way fantasy force as early as this winter. Teammate Scotty Pippen Jr. is a deep sleeper to consider thanks to also being one of Iisalo’s favorites from last spring’s short run together.

Andrew Nembhard, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers: Available deep into the middle rounds, Nembhard has already shown an ability to handle high-leverage playmaking duties. Don’t let the lack of scoring pop throw you off the trail, as Nembhard could prove above-average in 3-pointers, assists, steals and rebounds as a combo guard. Center Jay Huff is a stretch big with rim protection potential worth stashing in case he earns a real slice of the vacated Myles Turner minutes.

Tari Eason, SF/PF, Houston Rockets: Eason fills in gaps all over the floor. With the team likely to feature larger lineups in the wake of a major backcourt injury, Eason should play a major role in the Houston rotation. Known to maximize his minutes, Eason’s elevated role this season could see him join the rare tier of defenders who average three combined steals and blocks.

Reed Sheppard, SG, Houston Rockets: Prolific defensive rates surfaced in college. Such production usually translates well to the pros, but Shepard’s lack of traditional size and length adds some risk. The injury to Fred VanVleet could mean speeding up Sheppard’s timeline. The Rockets enter the season with a void for playmaking and tough shotmaking. Opportunity knocks for a gifted prospect.

Jaden Ivey, SG/PG, Detroit Pistons: Stellar catch-and-shoot efficiency emerged last season, albeit in a smaller sample. Ivey has shown signs of being able to thrive as a satellite in addition to an on-ball playmaker, adding another dimension to his profile ahead of a pivotal season. With the Pistons losing a good bit of complementary scoring from last season’s roster, Ivey’s offensive upside appears underrated.

Toumani Camara, PF/SF, Portland Trail Blazers: Somewhat similar to Eason, Camara is one of the more effective and versatile wing defenders in the league. This unique skill leads to lots of playing time. Don’t overlook the “glue” guys when building depth, especially in roto and category leagues where “stocks” have higher impact.

Cam Whitmore, SF, Washington Wizards: A bucket’s bucket, Whitmore will seek to challenge Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas in the irrational confidence category. This Villanova product could play big minutes and shoot at will from all over the perimeter for a team with one of the more fluid forward rotations heading into the new campaign.

Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, Chicago Bulls: After a strong finish to his rookie campaign, there is a sense of momentum with Buzelis as a fantasy force. With the team likely to empower the second-year forward, Buzelis could shine as the rare 3-and-D wing with strong block production.

Struggling Manchester United could be set for a change of manager, with Xavi, Gareth Southgate, Oliver Glasner, Fabian Hurzeler and Andoni Iraola all linked to replace Ruben Amorim, while Saudi Pro League clubs are once again targeting Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TOP STORIES

– West Ham hire Nuno after Potter sacking
– Amorim “not concerned” over Man United future
– Sources: Man City close to agreeing to new deal for Savinho

TRENDING RUMORS

– Former Barcelona manager Xavi would be interested in joining Manchester United if they choose to replace beleaguered boss Ruben Amorim, says Fabrizio Romano. United’s minority owner Jim Ratcliffe is considering a change as Amorim has returned just 33 points from his 34 games in charge and is facing fresh pressure following United’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford on Saturday. TalkSPORT claims that United are in contact with former England boss Gareth Southgate and are also monitoring Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, while The Sun adds Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler to the list. Amorim has previously stated that he won’t leave United of his own accord, which means United could face having to part with £12 million to relieve him of his duties.

– Saudi Pro League clubs are once again targeting Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva in the hopes of persuading the 31-year-old to head to the Middle East on a four-year deal, according to TalkSPORT. The Portugal international, who has started four of City’s six Premier League matches this season, made it clear he wasn’t prepared to leave Manchester in the year leading up to the 2026 World Cup when he refused a £700,000-a-week contract at Al Hilal earlier this summer. However, Al Ahli and Al Qadsiah are both interested in bringing the midfielder to Saudi next year, with Al Nassr also contemplating a move if they fail to land preferred target Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United.

– Newcastle United are planning to offer midfielder Bruno Guimarães a new contract in the hope they can fend off interest from Manchester City, who in turn may turn their attentions to Paris Saint-Germain‘s João Neves, according to Football Insider. Newcastle are determined to keep hold of the 27-year-old Brazilian after having lost striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool in the summer, and so will look to extend his deal beyond 2028. City made a formal approach to sign Guimaeres in the summer but City boss Pep Guardiola will now target Neves as he looks to strengthen his midfield options next season.

– Manchester United and Chelsea are both eyeing a move for Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic after the Italian club suggested he could be available in the January transfer window, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The Serbia international has been looking to leave since new contract talks turned sour last season, and the Bianconeri are now hoping to recoup a fee in January before his deal runs out at the end of the season. Vlahovic, 25, is available to sign a pre-contract agreement with any non-Italian club from January.

EXPERT TAKE

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Craig Burley reacts to Tottenham’s last-minute draw vs. Wolves in the Premier League.

OTHER RUMORS

– Manchester City are mulling over a move for Bayern Munich’s 22-year-old midfielder Aleksander Pavlovic. City boss Pep Guardiola sees the German as a long-term successor for Rodri. (Caught Offside)

– Arsenal are scouting Real Betis midfielder Pablo Garcia, Hoffenheim defender Bazoumana Toure, and Eintracht Frankfurt winger Bahoya. (GMS)

– Inter Milan are hoping to make defender Manuel Akanji‘s loan move from Manchester City a permanent one in the summer of 2026. Inter have been extremely pleased with the 30 year old and have set aside €15m to secure the deal. (Fabrizio Romano)

– AC Milan have started talks with Fikayo Tomori’s representatives over a contract extension. The 27 year old is already tied to the club until 2027, but the Rossoneri are happy with the center back’s form and want him to commit his future to the Serie A league leaders. (Fabrizio Romano)

– Liverpool and Everton are among the clubs tracking Genk’s 17-year-old attacking midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas. Newcastle United, Sunderland and Bournemouth are also eyeing plotting a potential £20m move in January. (Ekrem Konur)

– Flamengo forward Wallace Yan is a target for Crystal Palace, Wolves, Napoli and Monaco. The 20 year old has a release clause of €60m, but it’s believed a lower fee could be negotiated. (Ekrem Konur)

– Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar has been one of the star performers in Serie A this season, and the Giallorossi are looking to tie him down to a longer contract to prevent advances from the Premier League. The 26 year old has been offered a new deal until 2030 worth €40m a season. (Calciomercato)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Joe Alt exited the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the New York Giants on a medical cart with what the Chargers called an ankle injury.

Alt was ruled out of the game in the beginning of the second half and the initial belief is that he suffered a high ankle sprain, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux fell into Alt’s right leg during a play early in the first quarter. Alt limped off the field and removed his helmet, winced in pain and struggled to put weight on his right ankle.

Alt returned to the sidelines in the second half in street clothes and with a boot on his right ankle.

If Alt misses significant time, it would be a major blow to the already injury-laden Chargers’ offensive line.

The Chargers were playing Sunday’s game missing two projected starters on the offensive line. L.A. lost Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater for the season in training camp after he ruptured his patellar tendon. When Slater went down, the Chargers moved Alt from right to left tackle and put backup Trey Pipkins at right tackle. Guard Mekhi Becton also missed Sunday’s game with a concussion.

So, the Chargers are playing Sunday’s game against one of the NFL’s best defensive lines with three backup offensive linemen. With Alt out, Austin Deculus played left tackle.

This is the third straight week the Chargers have lost a star player to injury. Last week, running back Najee Harris suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, and in Week 2, outside linebacker Kahlil Mack injured his elbow, which landed him on injured reserve.