Game: Cincinnati Bengals (9-3) at Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
Series Leader: Series tied, 5-5
Streak: Bengals have won two of the past three
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 1-0. Childress: 0-0
Broadcast: CBS (12:00 PM CT): Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf. Westwood One Radio: Kevin Kugler, Mark Malone. SIRIUS: 129 (Cin.), 122 (Min.). XM: 107 (Min.).
SB Nation: Daily Norseman
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Dome
Uniform: White
Television Coverage: Many states. Check the map [506]
Cincinnati Bengals
- With a win, head coach Marvin Lewis (55-53-1) will surpass Paul Brown (55-59-1) for second most wins in team history (Sam Wyche: 64-68).
- Bengals look to go undefeated against the NFC North -- they went undefeated against the NFC North in 2005.
- Against the NFC North in 2009, Carson Palmer has nine touchdowns, four interceptions and a 111.6 passer rating.
- Cedric Benson only needs 31 yards rushing for his first career 1,000-yard rushing season.
- Bengals are 5-0 when Benson rushes 25 times or more and averages 135.4 yards rushing per game in those five games.
- Chad Ochocinco looks to record his third consecutive 100-yard receiving game against the NFC, averaging 115.3 yards receiving in those games.
- Chad only needs 90 yards receiving to record his seventh 1,000-yard receiving season in his career.
- Jonathan Fanene recorded his first pick-six last week.
Minnesota Vikings
- In four career starts against the Cincinnati Bengals, Brett Favre is 3-1.
- Favre has recorded 1,799 yards passing, 16 touchdowns and only one interception at home this season for a passer rating of 119.1.
- Since entering the league in 2007, Adrian Peterson has rushed for 4,204 yards -- by far, most in the league.
- In four home games against the AFC, Peterson is averaging 184.5 yards per game and four touchdowns.
- Chester Taylor recorded 139 yards rushing in his only start against the Bengals, while with Baltimore, on December 5, 2004.
- Wide receiver Sidney Rice leads the NFC with 1,036 yards receiving.
- In his past four home games, Rice has 25 receptions for 555 yards and two touchdowns.
- Percy Harvin leads all NFL rookies with eight touchdowns (six receiving, two on kick return).
- Tight End Visanthe Shiancoe is second among tight ends with nine touchdowns and looks to record a touchdown in his fourth straight.
- Jared Allen has 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in his past two games.
- Since 2004, Allen has 70 quarterback sacks. Most in the NFL.
TEAM RANKINGS
| Offense | Bengals | Vikings |
| Total | 331.9 (18th) | 383.8 (5th) |
| Scoring | 21.2 (16th) | 29.9 (2nd) |
| Third Downs | 41% (12th) | 47% (3rd) |
| Rushing | 133.9 (6th) | 123.6 (11th) |
| Rushing TDs | 9 (t-16th) | 13 (t-9th) |
| Passing | 198.0 (21st) | 260.2 (9th) |
| Passing TDs | 16 (t-16th) | 27 (2nd) |
| Sacks Allowed | 22 (t-8th) | 25 (t-12th) |
| 20-yard Passes | 31 (21st) | 42 (9th) |
| Defense | Bengals | Vikings |
| Total | 293.2 (4th) | 311.4 (8th) |
| Scoring | 15.6 (1st) | 19.4 (10th) |
| 3rd Downs Allowed | 33% (1st) | 33% (3rd) |
| Rushing | 81.8 (2nd) | 84.2 (3rd) |
| Rushing TDs | 6 (t-6th) | 3 (t-1st) |
| Passing | 211.5 (12th) | 227.2 (21st) |
| Passing TDs | 13 (8th) | 18 (t-18th) |
| Sacks | 29 (t-9th) | 40 (1st) |
| QB Rating | 73.7 (7th) | 91.2 (24th) |
| 20-Yard Passes Allowed | 33 (t-13th) | 41 (t-25th) |
| Interceptions | 14 (t-6th) | 9 (t-22nd) |
| Special Teams | Bengals | Vikings |
| Kickoff Return | 21.8 (25th) | 24.3 (t-8th) |
| Punt Return | 11.8 (5th) | 9.4 (t-12th) |
| Punting (Net) | 43.8 (22nd) | 37.9 (17th) |
| Punts Inside the 20 | 20 (t-13th) | 19 (t-16th) |
2009 STATISTICAL INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
| Carson Palmer | Stat | Ranking |
| Quarterback Rating | 85.0 | 18th |
| Yards Passing | 2,547 | 17th |
| Touchdowns | 16 | t-13th |
| First Downs | 129 | 15th |
| Average Yards/Att | 7.0 | 18th |
| Completions | 222 | 17th |
| Interceptions | 10 | t-18th |
| Times Sacked | 22 | t-17th |
| Cedric Benson | Stat | Ranking |
| Yards Rushing | 969 | 7th |
| Attempts / Game | 24.1 | 1st |
| Touchdowns | 6 | t-14th |
| First Downs | 45 | 8th |
| Chad Ochocinco | Stat | Ranking |
| Receptions | 62 | 19th |
| Yards Receiving | 910 | 12th |
| Touchdowns | 6 | t-12th |
| 20-yard receptions | 14 | t-8th |
| First Downs | 48 | t-7th |
CAREER AGAINST THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Carson Palmer
| Date | Result | Comp. | Att. | Yards | TDs | Int |
| 9.18.2005 | W 37-8 | 27 | 40 | 337 | 3 | 1 |
Chad Johnson
| Date | Result | Rec | Yards | TDs |
| 9.18.2005 | W 37-8 | 7 | 139 | 1 |
Cedric Benson
| Date | Rushes | Yards | TDs |
| 10.14.2007 | 18 | 67 | 0 |
| 12.3.2006 | 9 | 60 | 1 |
| 1.1.2006 | 9 | 35 | 0 |
| 10.16.2005 | 3 | 2 | 0 |