Bengals vs Lions 2017: Game time, TV schedule, online stream, odds, how to watch and follow

The Bengals and Lions are set up for a rare meeting. The last time the two teams played A.J. Green and Calvin Johnson had a classic wide receiver battle. Marvin Jones Jr. was still playing for the Bengals instead of the Lions. Those days seem pretty far away now.

The Bengals secured their second straight losing season last week when they got destroyed by the Vikings. It was the second week in a row the Bengals were blown out by an opponent. It didn’t help that reports that Marvin Lewis wouldn’t be returning next season surfaced before the game.

After the game Lewis denied the reports and that he addressed it with his team. He also said that his team wouldn’t have seen it anyway since none of them are looking at that kind of stuff before a game. Clearly he was wrong by the account of a few different players who confirmed they saw it, and that they didn’t recall him even addressing it. It seems like the kind of thing there shouldn’t be any confusion about before you go out there to play a football game.

The Lions on the other hand still have life left in the season. They are only a game out of the sixth seed in the NFC. They are racing two other 8-6 teams into this game though for that final spot. That means they can’t afford to stumble in these final two games.

This is the perfect chance for the Bengals to show some pride, and at least ruin another team’s season before theirs comes to an end. Although if they lose they will have an opportunity to move higher in the draft order, which really isn’t such a bad consolation prize with the way the Bengals offseason is looking like it will end up going.

How to watch the Bengals host the Lions on Sunday:

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (5-9) at Detroit Lions (8-6)

Date/Time: Sunday, December 24th, 2017 1:00 p.m. EST

Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Series Leader: Bengals lead the all-time series 8-3

Streak: Bengals have won the last five games

Coaches vs Opponent: Marvin Lewis (3-0), Jim Caldwell (1-1)

TV Broadcast: FOX broadcast with Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Chris Spielman (analyst) and Jennifer Hale (sideline reporter). The game will air in Cincinnati on WXIX-TV (Channel 19). Additional regional FOX affiliates include WGRT-TV (Ch. 45) in Dayton, WTTE-TV (Ch. 28) in Columbus, WLIO-TV (Ch. 8.2) in Lima, WDKY-TV (Ch. 56) in Lexington, Ky. and WDRB-TV (Ch. 41) in Louisville, Ky.

Radio Broadcast: Coverage on the Bengals Radio Network, led by a “triple-cast” on Cincinnati flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).

Online Streaming: Watch the live stream on the NFL's mobile app. International viewers can use NFL Game Pass.

Lions’ SB Nation Website: Pride of Detroit

Weather: Mid 30’s; Overcast [NFL Weather]

Odds: The Bengals open as 3.5-point underdogs [Vegas Insider]

Uniforms: Black jersey with white pants; the Bengals are 32-32-1 in that combination since 2004.