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PREVIEW
DECEMBER 6, 2009
TIME: 1 p.m.
PLACE: Paul Brown Stadium, FieldTurf
TV: Fox team of Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Brian Billick (analyst), Laura Okmin (sideline reporter). If the game is declared a sellout it will be televised live on Channel 19 in Cincinnati, Channel 45 in Dayton, OH, and Channel 56 in Lexington, KY. The game will be broadcast on Channel 28 in Columbus, OH and Channel 41 in Louisvile, KY.
RADIO: Play-by-play man Brad Johansen and analyst Dave Lapham on 700-AM (The Big One), 1530-AM (Homer) and 102.7-FM WEBN on "Triple Cast" Cincinnati flagships of the 25-station Bengals radio network.
INJURIES
CIN: Starting RB Cedric Benson (hip) practiced Wednesday and Thursday and looks to be back after missing the last two games. Starting WLB Keith Rivers (calf) practiced Wednesday and Thursday and looks to be back after missing the last three games. Starting DT Domata Peko (knee) didn't work Wednesday and Thursday, but the same thing happened last week and he started. He reaggravated the injury last Sunday in the third quarter. Backup RB Bernard Scott (toe) didn't work Wednesday and Thursday and looks hobbled for Sunday with a boot. Backup C Jonathan Luigs (back), inactive last week, looks ticketed there again. Various players were limited earlier in the week but were expected to go, such as nickel CB Morgan Trent (knee), starting SLB Rey Maualuga (foot), starting WR Laveranues Coles (chest), backup S Kyries Hebert (hip), starting DT Tank Johnson (knee) and backup DE Frostee Rucker (neck).
DET: Starting RG Daniel Loper (back) didn't work Wednesday and Thursday. Starting DT Grady Jackson (knee) was a new addition Thursday and didn't practice. Defensive starters FS Louis Delmas, (ankle), OLB Ernie Sims (hamstring) and Dewayne White (toe) were limited Thursday. Also Thursday, starting QB Matthew Stafford (non-throwing shoulder) and starting WR Calvin Johnson (knee) went full go.
» Complete Injury Report
THE SERIES
Bengals lead 6-3; 2-2 in Cincinnati, 0-0 at PBS
NOTEWORTHY» A week after becoming the first Bengals team to sweep its division at 6-0, head coach Marvin Lewis and quarterback Carson Palmer bring in a 6-0 record against the NFC North.
» The next Bengals victory is Lewis's 55th as head coach, tying him with founder Paul Brown for second on the franchise coaching list behind Sam Wyche's 64. It also secures his second winning season.
» The Bengals are 13-12 in December under Lewis, 8-4 at home.
» It took them nine years, but the Lions become the last team to visit Paul Brown Stadium for a regular-season game. The last time they were here was Nov. 22, 1992, and the only coaches or players still with the Bengals who were here that day at Riverfront Stadium are running backs coach Jim Anderson and director of player relations Eric Ball, who was at running back. Lions RB Barry Sanders scored the only offensive touchdown of the day in Detroit's 19-13 victory.
» The last time the Bengals played the Lions, they clinched the AFC North title on Dec. 18, 2005 in a 41-17 win in Detroit. The Bengals are 27-34-1 since, the Lions 13-48.
» Palmer has supersonic numbers vs. the NFC North. He's hit on 128 of 183 passes for a near 70 percent completion clip with 1,435 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 115.8 passer rating.
» Bengals RB Larry Johnson has just four carries against the Lions, his fewest against all clubs except for one against the Colts and none against his old team, the Chiefs.
» Lions P Nick Harris, who duels with Bengals rookie P Kevin Huber, punted for the Bengals from 2001-2003, when Huber was toiling at McNicholas High School in Cincinnati's Anderson Township.
» Lions head coach Jim Schwartz worked under Lewis from 1996-98, when Lewis was the Ravens defensive coordinator. Billick, the Fox analyst, took the Ravens head coaching job when Schwartz moved to Tennessee and Lewis stayed in Baltimore.
NFL RANKINGS
CIN: 16th in scoring, 17th in offense (seventh rushing, 21st passing); Sixth in defense (third rushing, 16th passing), tied for 10th in turnover margin at plus-two.
DET: 25th in scoring, 26th in offense (25th rushing, 19th passing), 32nd in defense (19th in rushing, 32nd passing), T31st in turnover margin at minus-11.
COACHESCIN: Marvin Lewis 54-52-1 regular season, 0-1 postseason in his seventh season, 1-0 vs. Lions
DET: Jim Schwartz 2-9 in his first season, 0-0 vs. Bengals and Lewis.
THE WEATHER
The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio is calling for no chance of rain under mostly sunny skies in Cincinnati with a game-time temperature of 40 degrees and a wind out of the south at five miles per hour.
GAME DAY ENTERTAINMENT
Anthem: Nikea Davidson
Halftime: Segway Polo
Honor Guard: US Marines
Game Ball: P&G
Flyover: 224 "Bengals" from Beaufort, SC
