Bengals 23, Broncos 10

CINCINNATI (AP) — The ball was in the air and Champ Bailey was on the ground, watching Chad Johnson pull away with no one between him and the end zone.

Would the chastened receiver drop the ball the way he did so many times a week ago?

Not a chance. Not with his reputation on the line. Not with a city's hopes on his fingertips.

Johnson's 50-yard touchdown catch gave the Cincinnati Bengals the gumption they needed to beat the Denver Broncos 23-10 in their long-awaited and somewhat dreaded return to ”Monday Night Football.”

”This was what we needed,” said Johnson, who had seven catches for 149 yards.

Rarely has a franchise and a city needed so much from one game.

The Bengals (2-4) hadn't hosted a Monday night game in 15 years and hadn't even played in one since 1992, an exile that reflected their ineptitude. No other team had gone so long without appearing in the Monday night lineup.

As this one approached, a sense of dread festered. The crowd of 65,806 — the largest ever at Paul Brown Stadium — was hoping the last-place team wouldn't become another national embarrassment.

Quite the opposite.

The Broncos (5-2) played the role of bumblers, failing to get what it needed out of the league's top running game and one of its very best defenses.

”We just didn't have it,” said Reuben Droughns, who ran for 110 yards but fumbled and failed to convert short-yardage plays. ”It seemed like they had more fight than us.”

One play got the Bengals hyped for the upset.

Johnson ran right past Bailey, who stumbled and fell while the receiver pulled away for his 50-yard touchdown play midway through the first quarter. All it took was one play to get the Bengals believing.

”They believe in covering man-to-man and loading up to stop the run,” said quarterback Carson Palmer, who was 12-of-21 for 198 yards. ”We were counting on Chad, leaning on Chad to get open and catch balls downfield.”

He did it all night, winning the marquee matchup of Pro Bowl receiver vs. Pro Bowl cornerback.

”I'm not afraid of any challenge,” said Bailey, who has rarely been beaten so often. ”I feel like I am the best. I don't care who is out there.”

He had trouble covering a receiver who was fighting self-doubt.

Johnson was coming off his most embarrassing game, a 34-17 loss in Cleveland that left the focus on him. Johnson had sent the Browns' defensive backs bottles of Pepto-Bismol in advance, teasing that they'd get sick trying to cover him. Instead, he had three harmless catches, three drops and a sick feeling himself.

He was low-key all week, wondering how he could have such a bad game. On Monday, he made amends.

”I expect to do it,” said Johnson, who had two 50-yard catches in the first half to set the tone. ”That's why I was so bothered by last week. I'm glad I was able to bounce back after the horrible game I played last week.”

The Broncos will be doing some soul-searching after this one.

The Bengals repeatedly gave them openings to rally, managing only three field goals out of five drives inside the 20-yard line. Denver simply wasn't up to it.

Jake Plummer threw two interceptions and was sacked three times, matching his total for the first six games. And a defense that ranked among the league's best in every category allowed Johnson to get open and Rudi Johnson to run for 119 yards and a touchdown.

”They were ready for a big game,” said Plummer, 23-of-40 for 221 yards.

And now, they're ready for another.

As the Bengals ran off the field with arms raised, fans raised a sign aimed at the Monday night schedulers.

”Please come back before 2019 A.D.,” it pleaded.

Request noted.

Notes: Bengals DT Tony Williams dislocated and broke his left ankle, a season-ending injury. Williams had reversed field to chase Plummer when guard George Foster dived at his lower leg. … Denver RB Quentin Griffin, who sprained his ankle and lost the job to Droughns earlier in the season, hurt his right knee in the third quarter. He'll be tested in Denver to see if he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. … The Bengals' last home Monday night game was Sept. 25, 1989, a 21-14 win over Cleveland. Their last Monday night appearance was a 20-0 loss in Pittsburgh on Oct. 19, 1992.