Primer against Denver

GAME: Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) @ Denver Broncos (8-6)
WHEN: Sunday, December 24th, 2006 at 4:15 Eastern
LOCATION: Denver
BROADCAST: CBS with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. Sirius: 147 (Cincinnati), 130 (Denver)
SB NATION: Mile High Report

Cincinnati Bengals

• The Bengals have won four of their past five games.
• If the Bengals win out this season, they will have back-to-back 10 win seasons for the first time since 1975-76.
• Carson Palmer needs 425 yards passing in the final two games to be the first Bengal quarterback to reach 4,000 in a season.
• Palmer has thrown for two or more touchdowns in six of eight career December starts.
• Palmer has a 96.9 quarterback rating (third in the AFC) and aims to be the first quarterback in club history to have two seasons with a rating of 96.0 or better.
• With one more rushing touchdown, Rudi Johnson will have three straight seasons with 12 rushing touchdowns.
• When Rudi runs 20 times or more, the Bengals are 25-7 with wins in 16 of the past 17 games.
• Chad Johnson has at least five receptions in 80% (72-90) of his career games.
• In each of his two career games against the Broncos, Chad has at least six receptions and one touchdown.
• T.J. Houshmandzadeh leads the team with eight receiving touchdowns.
• The Bengals defense has allowed 17 points or less in four of the past five games.
• With 1.5 sacks, Robert Geathers would be the first Cincinnati defensive lineman to reach 12 sacks in a single-season since Eddie Edwards (13, 1983).

Denver Broncos

• The Broncos are 73-21 at home since Mike Shanahan became head coach in 1995.
• In his first three starts, quarterback Jay Cutler has a passer rating of 90.1 with six touchdowns and three picks.
• If running back Tatum Bell rushes for 73 yards, it will mark the 11th time a Bronco running back reached 1,000 yards rushing under Shanahan.
• Running back Mike Bell has seven rushing touchdowns (tops on the team).
• Wide receiver Javon Walker is the third player in team history to reach 1,000 yards receiving in his first season with the club -- Lionel Taylor (1960), Anthony Miller (1994).
• In five career games against Cincinnati, Rod Smith has 25 receptions and four touchdowns.
• With a start Sunday, center Tom Nalen will reach 188 games played surpassing Paul Howard for 4th most played in team history.
• Champ Bailey has 19 interceptions with Denver. One more and he'll pass Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson for 9th most in team history.
• Defensive end, Elvis Dumervil is third among NFL rookies with seven sacks.
• With two points, Jason Elam will reach 100 points scored in a season for the 14th straight season -- a new record if accomplished.

OFFENSE

DEFENSE