News

VS.

PREVIEW
DECEMBER 27, 2009

TIME: 1 p.m.

PLACE: Paul Brown Stadium (FieldTurf)

TV: CBS team of Gus Johnson (play-by-play), and Steve Tasker (analyst). If sold out live on Channel 12 in Cincinnati, Channel 7 in Dayton, OH, and Channel 27 in Lexington, 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 S Chris Crocker (ankle) didn’t practice Wednesday and Thursday and may miss his second straight game; Starting DT Domata Peko (knee) worked out on the field for first time since Dec. 7 scope and the hope had been he’d back for the Jan. 3 finale but he could play for first time since missing last three games. RB and kick returner Bernard Scott (toe) practiced full all week for first time after missing the last three.

KC: Starting DE Glenn Dorsey (knee) and CB Brandon Flowers (shoulder) went full in practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Former Bengals RG Mike Goff is on injured reserve.
» Complete Injury Report

THE SERIES: Chiefs lead, 13-12; Bengals lead in Cincinnati, 6-5, 2-0 at PBS.

NOTEWORTHY
» With a win the Bengals clinch their seventh division title and second under head coach Marvin Lewis.

» At 9-5 the Bengals look to win at least 10 games for the eighth time: 1973, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1988, 2005.

» The Bengals haven’t lost at PBS in December since 2006. They’ve won five straight and six out of their last seven.

» The Bengals are 14-14 in December under Lewis, 9-4 at PBS.

» The Chiefs allowed a club-record 351 yards rushing last week against Cleveland. The Bengals rushed for 364 yards in two games against the Browns this season.

» The Chiefs have allowed three straight games of 200 yards or more rushing. The Bengals have rushed for two games of more than 200 this year (against the Bears and Browns).

» The Chiefs have allowed at least 41 points in three of the last four games. The Bengals have scored 41 points or more three times in last 44 games.

» The Bengals are eighth in the NFL holding teams on third down. The Chiefs are 31st converting third down.

» The Bengals have allowed one 100-yard rusher this year in Browns running back Jerome Harrison. Harrison rushed for the third-most yards (286) in NFL annals at Kansas City last week. Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles has back-to-back 100-yard rushing games and three in the last six.

» Bengals running back Larry Johnson rushed for 377 yards on 132 carries with the Chiefs earlier this season for 2.9 yards per carry. On his first 33 carries as a Bengal he’s averaging 4.7.

» Johnson has gained a yard against every NFL team but the Chiefs.

» USC roommates Carson Palmer (19) and Matt Cassel (15) have combined for 34 touchdown passes this season for the Bengals and Chiefs, respectively. When Cassel backed up Palmer in college, Palmer threw 33 TDs and won the Heisman trophy.

» Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco is 79 yards away from becoming the 33rd player to reach 10,000 yards. Only one other Bengal is on that list. Charlie Joiner, who played 39 of his 239 career games in Cincinnati from 1972-75, finished with more than 12,000.

NFL RANKINGS
CIN: 17th in scoring, 19th in offense (6th rushing, 21st passing); 5th in defense (third rushing, 15th passing), tied for 13th in turnover margin at plus two.

KC: 26th in scoring, 27th in offense (22nd rushing, 26th passing), 30th in defense (31st in rushing, 19th passing), tied for 15th in turnover margin at plus-one.

COACHES
CIN: Marvin Lewis 55-54-1 regular season, 0-1 postseason in his seventh season, 3-2 vs. Chiefs.

KC: Todd Haley 3-11 in his first season, 0-0 vs. Bengals and Lewis.

THE WEATHER
The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio is calling for 32 degrees under cloudy skies with a 30 percent chance of snow showers and wind out of the west about five miles per hour.