The Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals faced off against each other in the first round of NFL fixtures last month, and few expected either side to mount a serious challenge this term.

After the game, not many changed their views, but in truth that match told us a lot about how the two teams have since put themselves in contention for the playoffs.

The contest itself was a dour affair, lit up by a remarkable penultimate play which saw a deflected pass fall into the grateful hands of Denver wide receiver Brandon Stokley, who completed an 87-yard touchdown.

Since “The Immaculate Deflection,” both sides have remained unbeaten, defeating some big guns along the way. Both defenses were resolute that day and have formed a basis of success for both franchises.

In Denver, rookie head coach Josh McDaniels hardly eased himself into his new position, and his treatment of quarterback Jay Cutler, arguably his best player at the time, was shambolic and a mistake.

Since then, however, McDaniels has shown he has the nous to win football matches. His passion for the game is evident and by outwitting former mentor Bill Belichick this past week, giving him a serious scalp to his credit already.

McDaniels and new quarterback Kyle Orton have not been asked to turn this franchise around. The tools were in place for a successful season after finishing 8-8 last time around, but fine-tuning was required to ensure they built upon that.

What McDaniels really needed to address was his porous defense, which allowed on average 28 points per game last year. This time around, teams are averaging only 8.6 points per game against Denver, and this includes the explosive offenses in Dallas and New England. The addition of safety Brian Dawkins has helped, but so has the efficiency of the offense.

Orton has only thrown one interception, and in Knowshon Moreno the Broncos have a promising running back that can gain first downs and keep the ball moving. Their fourth-quarter, 90-yard drive against the Pats may not have been spectacular, but it was typical of how Denver uses this offense to control games.

The Bengals have also turned things around, but in a very different way. The problem in Cincinnati was an attitude one, and head coach Marvin Lewis needed to change the mentality if he was to have success in Ohio.

In recent weeks, the Bengals have looked sharper and more deadly. They’ve always had big-time offensive players like Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer but have been complemented brilliantly this season by a stingy defense.

So far this season, Derrick Mason, Greg Jennings, and Braylon Edwards, all legitimate number one receivers, have failed to haul in a single reception against the Bengals.

Unlike Denver, Cincinnati finds itself in an ultra-competitive division that contains the two teams who contested last year’s AFC Championship game. But by winning all three of their games against their fellow AFC North teams, the Bengals sit atop of the division.

Palmer’s ability to get it done in key situations has proved crucial thus far for the Bengals, giving them a quarterback capable of shredding teams through the air.

The important factor so far, though, is that both of these teams have managed to find ways to win games in any manner possible.

The Bengals beat the Cleveland Browns with a field goal that did not even go through the posts, and Denver can point to a miraculous deflection for victory in Week One. Denver and Cincinnati both have shown a knack for winning games late in the fourth quarter or overtime, and that’s is an invaluable weapon to have.

Neither side have torn teams apart with its offensive firepower, but, crucially, they have consistently found ways of sticking with their opponents long enough to win.

Many have been waiting for the wheels to come off the bandwagons in Denver and Cincinnati, but instead the Broncos and Bengals seem to be accelerating at an alarming rate.

Every year, one or two teams come from nowhere to shock us all and make themselves serious contenders. After beating New England and Baltimore, it is time to take both Denver and Cincinnati very seriously.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

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