Primer: Houston Texans (2-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-1)

Game: Houston Texans (2-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-1)
Series Leader: Cincinnati Bengals: 3-1
Streak: Texans won last game
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 2-1. Kubiak: 1-0
Broadcast: CBS (1:00 PM ET): Don Criqui, Randy Cross.  SIRIUS: 154 (Hou.), 121 (Cin.).  XM: 107 (Cin.).
SB Nation: Battle Red Blog
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Sunny with a high of 54 degrees [Weather.com]
Uniform: Orange
Television Coverage: If the Bengals sellout, then southwest Ohio and parts of Northern Kentucky and most of the state of Texas and parts of the surrounding states. [506] Note: If the Bengals aren't shown locally because of the blackout, then the most likely game that replaces it is the Ravens at Vikings (not a bad replacement).

Quick Notes:

Last time both teams met: October 26, 2008. Bengals 6 at Texans 35. Houston WR Andre Johnson has 11 catches for 143 yards and WR Kevin Walter catches 2 TDs (7, 39) as Texans win 3rd straight game.

Last game between teams in Cincinnati: October 2, 2005. Bengals 16, Texans 10. Cincinnati QB Carson Palmer passes for 276 yards and a TD.  Shayne Graham kicks 3 FGs and RB Rudi Johnson adds 88 rushing yards.

Final note before we go into a bunch more notes: The Houston Texans were the first of two teams to lose to Cincinnati during the epic 2-14 season in 2002.

Cincinnati Bengals

• Dating back to December 14, 2008, the Bengals have won seven of their past eight games .
• Cincinnati looks to go 5-1 for the first since 2005.
• When playing the Texans at home, Cincinnati is 2-0.
• In the last two minutes of the past three games, Carson Palmer has completed 16 of 28 passes for 153 yards passing, two game-winning touchdowns and a passer rating of 96.3.
• With 254 yards passing, Palmer will reach 17,000 career yards passing.
• Dating back to December 21, 2008, Cedric Benson leads the NFL with 769 yards rushing on 147 carries (4.4 yards-per-rush).
• Benson is averaging 97.7 yards rushing in games that he's recorded 20 carries or more -- his teams are 9-1-1.
• Since 2002, Chad Ochocinco ranks second in the NFL with 8,928 yards receiving -- second to Torry Holt's 9,180.
• Andre Caldwell has two game-winning touchdowns this season.
• Antwan Odom needs .5 sacks to surpass his career high eight in 2007.
• If Johnathan Joseph records an interception Sunday, it'll be his fourth interception in four straight games. He'll be the first to achieve that since Deltha O'Neal had four in a row in 2005.

Houston Texans

• Texans aim for second consecutive wins over the Bengals.
• In his past four games, quarterback Matt Schaub has passed for 300 yards or more three times with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions for a 107.4 passer rating.
• The last time Schaub faced the Bengals, he completed 24 of 28 passes for 280 yards passing, three touchdowns and a passer rating of 144.0.
• When Schaub records a passer rating of 100 or better, his club is 8-3.
• Running back Chris Brown recorded his first rushing touchdown of the year last week.
• Andre Johnson looks to record 100 yards receiving in three straight games on the road (149, 101).
• Kevin Walter spend three seasons with Cincinnati (2003-2005).
• Tight End Owen Daniels recorded season highs with eight receptions and 94 yards receiving.
• The last time Mario Williams played the Bengals, he recorded a sack and forced fumble.
• Rookie linebacker Brian Cushing leads the team with 39 tackles; second among NFL rookies.

TEAM RANKINGS

2009 STATISTICAL INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

CAREER AGAINST HOUSTON

Carson Palmer

Chad Johnson

Cedric Benson