The Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals meet hungry for a win for very different reasons.
The Lions (3-1) are on a three-game winning streak and staking their claim as one of the best teams in the NFL early on this season. Another victory on the road sets them up well going into one of their toughest stretches of the schedule.
The Bengals (2-2) have lost two straight and looked downright pitiful in both of them after their franchise quarterback Joe Burrow required surgery that will hold him out for a few months.
Everything on paper is leaning toward not just a Lions victory, but a pretty lopsided one. Nothing is guaranteed, but recent form is in the favor of coach Dan Campbell’s squad.
Here are score predictions for Detroit’s road matchup with Cincinnati from MLive’s beat writers:
Ben Raven
The Bengals have looked broken without Joe Burrow. That’s fair. But I’m not holding back this week as I have in the past with potential blowouts coming. Dan Campbell’s Lions don’t believe in trap games, and they play like it.
Prediction: Lions 41, Bengals 7
Kory Woods
The Bengals have allowed 76 points over the past two weeks, while scoring only 13. And they have a Lions team coming into town that just dropped 34 points on the Browns, and Dan Campbell told their performance was “not good enough” immediately after the win.
Adding to the fact that their offensive line is subpar and Jake Browning hasn’t found a way to get the ball to Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins, this team is in a ton of trouble.
The Lions may face some initial problems in the secondary due to injuries to D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold, whether he plays or not, but this team is going to come out playing with its hair on fire, especially since they’re not coming off a short week. The offense didn’t play well at home. Expect that to change in Cincy.
Prediction: Lions 52, Bengals 10
Jacob Richman
The Lions should dominate in the trenches on both sides of the ball and that’s the recipe for success for this team. The Bengals might have to abandon the run sooner than usual this week if DJ Reader and Tyleik Williams continue what they’ve been doing on the interior the past few weeks.
I think the Bengals will be able to steal a couple plays on this depleted Lions secondary, with the hopes of showing some growth after two downright awful offensive performances.
But, the Lions should have this well in hand that a few unfortunate coverages won’t hurt the end result.
Prediction: Lions 38, Bengals 14
Here are some additional predictions from national media for the Lions-Bengals game:
CBS Sports
Pick: Lions
“The Bengals are playing on a short week after getting blown out by Denver on Monday night. Jake Browning is struggling behind a bad offensive line. The Lions didn’t play as well on offense against the Browns last week as they had been playing, but this will change that. Jared Goff will get back on track. Lions big.”
ESPN
Pick: Lions (Unanimous)
NFL.com
Pick: Lions (Unanimous)
“Real tough break for Jake Browning. To go from Minnesota’s opportunistic defense, to Denver’s attacking group to Detroit’s unrelenting unit in consecutive weeks … I mean, come on. Unlike the Bengals, who rank 30th in total defense and dead last in total offense, the Lions are firing on all cylinders, averaging an NFL-best 34.3 points per game and boasting the league’s No. 1 sack percentage (10%).
While Cincinnati ranks 31st in point-differential per game (-14.3), Detroit sits at the top of the table (12.3). Unless the Bengals’ rock-bottom run game suddenly finds its footing against Detroit’s seventh-ranked rush defense (unlikely), expect Browning to be under constant duress as he attempts to force passes to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. One of the league’s best duos (if not the best), Chase and Higgins can only do so much without the ball in their hands. Can Zac Taylor fix his floundering offense — on a short week, no less — against a team truly feeling itself? Just don’t see it.”
Arizona Republic
Pick: Lions
“Detroit’s season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers seems like ages ago. Jared Goff and the Lions will have no problem moving to 4-1 on the season in Cincinnati.”
The Sporting News
Pick: Lions
“The Lions have found their offensive stride with Jared Goff – who has a 77.95 completion percentage in three games since the Week 1 loss at Green Bay. The Bengals are 0-2 ATS as a home underdog the last three seasons – so it’s a rare occasion to rise up in this situation. Detroit is 11-2 ATS as a road favorite since 2023. If the Bengals can’t slow down Detroit’s running game, then it’s going to be a long game.”
USA Today
Pick: Lions (Unanimous)
“I love the Lions in this spot. The Bengals look lost and Detroit just hung 34 on a very good Browns defense. The Lions, which have two new coordinators on offense and defense, may be finding their rhythm.”
NBC Sports (Pro Football Talk)
Pick: Lions (Unanimous)
“These two are going in very different directions.”
Bleacher Report
Pick: Lions (Majority)
“The Lions are giving a lot of points for a team on the road against an unfamiliar opponent, but it’s hard to back the Bengals in any situation until I see Zac Taylor call a competent game plan.
Giving your starting back 10 carries with a bad defense and a backup QB behind center isn’t going to win you a lot of games against playoff-caliber opponents.
Even more alarming than Taylor’s coaching malpractice? The fact that Cincinnati’s players have looked disinterested over the past six quarters.”