Game: Detroit Lions (2-9) at Cincinnati Bengals (8-3)
Series Leader: Bengals 6-3
Streak: Bengals have won three straight and six of the past seven
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 1-0. Schwartz: 0-0
Broadcast: FOX (1:00 PM ET): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick, Laura Okmin (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 155 (Det.), 91 (Cin.). XM: 108 (Cin.).
SB Nation: Pride of Detroit
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Partly cloudy with a high around 39. [Weather.com]
Uniform: Black
Television Coverage: State of Ohio, most of Kentucky, West Virginia, eastern Pennsylvania, Michigan and northern Wisconsin. [506]
LAST GAME: The last time the Bengals played the Lions was December 18, 2005. The Bengals beat the Lions 41-17 in Detroit on their way to sweeping the entire NFC North that season. Palmer recorded three touchdown passes and outgained the Lions 426-270 in total yards. This was the game that the Bengals clinched their first division title in 15 years.
LAST GAME IN CINCINNATI: The last time the Lions played the Bengals in Cincinnati, the Lions beat the Bengals 19-13 behind a 151-yard day by Barry Sanders.
ONE NOTABLE: Cincinnati's own Thom Brennaman is scheduled to broadcast Sunday's game.
Cincinnati Bengals
- With a win, Marvin Lewis (54-53-1) will tie the legendary Paul Brown (55-59-1) for the second most wins in franchise history. Sam Wyche has 64 wins.
- Bengals look to recorded their fourth straight win when playing the Lions.
- Against the NFC North this season, the Bengals are 2-0 and Carson Palmer has completed 35 of 47 passes for 418 yards and eight touchdowns for a 123.0 passer rating.
- In his only meeting against Detroit, Palmer recorded three touchdown passes and a 95.5 passer rating.
- Cedric Benson only needs 141 yards rushing to record his first 1,000-yard season in his career.
- In his past two games, Bernard Scott is averaging 103 yards-per-game.
- Chad Ochocinco is averaging 104.5 yards receiving against the NFC this year.
- Defense is ranked 1st in the NFL, allowing only 15.8 points-per-game. Rushing defense ranks third, allowing 81.9 yards rushing per game.
- Leon Hall ranks second with 17 passes defensed and Johnathan Joseph is tied for fourth with 15 passes defensed.
Detroit Lions
- Matthew Stafford leads all NFL rookies with 2,124 yards passing and 12 touchdowns.
- Running back Kevin Smith has recorded 970 yards from scrimmage and needs 30 yards to reach 1,000 in back-to-back seasons.
- In his past three games against the AFC, Smith is averaging 123 yards from scrimmage per game.
- Calvin Johnson looks to record a touchdown in three straight games. Johnson also has four 100-yard receiving games against the AFC, including two of the past three games.
- Tight End Will Heller has a touchdown in two of his past three games.
- Linebacker Julian Peterson recorded a sack and forced fumble last week and has 29 quarterback sacks since 2006.
- Safety Louis Delmas recorded a safety last week (irony!)
- Cornerback Anthony Henry has an interception in two of his past three games against the Bengals.
TEAM RANKINGS
| Offense | Bengals | Lions |
| Total | 332.9 (17th) | 308.2 (26th) |
| Scoring | 21.0 (16th) | 17.5 (25th) |
| Third Downs | 42% (11th) | 39% (16th) |
| Rushing | 135.3 (7th) | 96.2 (25th) |
| Rushing TDs | 9 (t-15th) | 6 (23rd) |
| Passing | 197.6 (21st) | 212.0 (19th) |
| Passing TDs | 15 (t-16th) | 13 (t-20th) |
| Sacks Allowed | 20 (t-7th) | 33 (t-28th) |
| 20-yard Passes | 28 (20th) | 31 (t-16th) |
| Defense | Bengals | Lions |
| Total | 297.6 (6th) | 394.3 (32nd) |
| Scoring | 15.8 (1st) | 30.5 (32nd) |
| 3rd Downs Allowed | 34% (5th) | 42% (27th) |
| Rushing | 81.9 (3rd) | 112.9 (19th) |
| Rushing TDs | 5 (6th) | 9 (t-16th) |
| Passing | 215.7 (16th) | 281.4 (32nd) |
| Passing TDs | 12 (t-9th) | 27 (32nd) |
| Sacks | 26 (t-10th) | 19 (t-27th) |
| QB Rating | 75.5 (6th) | 111.8 (32nd) |
| 20-Yard Passes Allowed | 31 (t-15th) | 38 (27th) |
| Interceptions | 12 (t-7th) | 6 (t-31st) |
| Special Teams | Bengals | Lions |
| Kickoff Return | 22.2 (t-22nd) | 20.8 (27th) |
| Punt Return | 11.2 (5th) | 9.2 (14th) |
| Punting (Net) | 37.7 (t-19th) | 37.6 (t-22nd) |
| Punts Inside the 20 | 18 (t-12th) | 16 (t-20th) |
2009 STATISTICAL INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
| Carson Palmer | Stat | Ranking |
| Quarterback Rating | 86.7 | 15th |
| Yards Passing | 2,327 | 17th |
| Touchdowns | 15 | t-14th |
| First Downs | 119 | t-16th |
| Average Yards/Att | 6.9 | t-17th |
| Completions | 205 | 18th |
| Interceptions | 8 | t-16th |
| Times Sacked | 20 | t-16th |
| Cedric Benson | Stat | Ranking |
| Yards Rushing | 859 | 9th |
| Attempts / Game | 22.8 | 1st |
| Touchdowns | 6 | t-12th |
| First Downs | 36 | 12th |
| Chad Ochocinco | Stat | Ranking |
| Receptions | 53 | t-24th |
| Yards Receiving | 773 | 16th |
| Touchdowns | 5 | t-15th |
| 20-yard receptions | 11 | t-12th |
| First Downs | 42 | t-9th |
CAREER AGAINST THE DETROIT LIONS
Carson Palmer
| Date | Result | Comp. | Att. | Yards | TDs | Int |
| 12.18.2005 | W 41-17 | 28 | 39 | 274 | 3 | 2 |
Chad Johnson
| Date | Result | Rec | Yards | TDs |
| 12.18.2005 | W 41-17 | 11 | 99 | 1 |
Cedric Benson
| Date | Rushes | Yards | TDs |
| 10.28.2007 | 13 | 50 | 0 |
| 9.30.2007 | 15 | 50 | 0 |
| 12.24.2006 | 15 | 49 | 0 |
| 9.17.2006 | 10 | 25 | 0 |
| 10.30.2005 | 3 | 35 | 0 |
| 9.18.2005 | 16 | 49 | 0 |
Laveranues Coles
| Date | Rec | Yards | TDs |
| 10.22.2006 | 4 | 29 | 0 |
| 11.7.2004 | 4 | 46 | 1 |
| 11.17.2002 | 7 | 114 | 0 |
Larry Johnson
| Date | Rushes | Yards | TDs |
| 12.14.2003 | 4 | 26 | 0 |