The Bengals look to get back into the win column Sunday in the annual Stripe the Jungle game against the Detroit Lions.

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Scouting Report

By: Michael Hull

Lions Offense

Detroit lost its offensive coordinator during the offseason, as Ben Johnson became head coach of the Chicago Bears. Despite the change in command, the Lions have not missed a beat, leading the NFL with 34.3 points per game and ranking sixth with 365.0 yards per game.

QB Jared Goff ranks second in the NFL with nine touchdown passes to two interceptions over the first month of the season. Goff's 73.8% completion percentage also ranks second in the league among quarterbacks with at least 10 attempts, trailing only Patriots QB Drake Maye.

The Lions' running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery is once again leading Detroit's successful ground attack. The Lions rank sixth in rushing per game (139.0). Gibbs ranks 10th in the league with 271 yards rushing on 4.7 yards per carry and has four rushing touchdowns, while Montgomery is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and has scored three touchdowns. Gibbs ranks second among running backs in receptions with 20, trailing 49ers running back Christian McCaffery.

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown leads the NFL with six receiving touchdowns over the first four games and has the third-highest PFF receiving grade among receivers with at least 10 targets. He's received 31 targets and recorded zero drops. Deep threat Jameson Williams and TE Sam LaPorta have each seen 19 targets. LaPorta has hauled in 16 receptions, and Williams has grabbed 10 for 21.4 yards per catch, leading all receivers with at least 10 targets.

Detroit has done a good job of keeping Goff upright over the first four weeks, as the quarterback has not been sacked since Week 1 against the Packers. According to PFF, Goff has been kept clean on 84 of his dropbacks and faced pressure on 45.

The Lions also have the fourth-highest run block grade as a team. T Penei Sewell is the highest-graded offensive tackle in the NFL through the first month of the season, posting a 93.2 PFF offensive grade and a 95.2 run-block grade.

Lions Defense

Detroit has the sixth-highest rated defense in the league per PFF, sitting at a 76.1 defensive grade. The unit is led by edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Hutchinson is tied for sixth in the NFL with four sacks so far this season, and his 23 total pressures are tied for third. He has the fifth-highest PFF pass rush grade among all defenders as well (92.1). On the other side, Al-Quadin Muhammad has emerged as a legitimate compliment to Hutchinson. The 2017 sixth-round pick has 3.5 sacks in the first four games of the season, already over halfway to his career high in a single season (six in 2021 with the Indianapolis Colts). As a team, the Lions are second in the NFL with 14 takedowns.

The Lions have allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards per game (94.0), including allowing 79 last week against the Browns.

S Brian Branch captains the secondary: His 80.3 PFF coverage grade is the third highest in the NFL among safeties. Branch has been targeted 14 times in coverage, allowing eight receptions and two touchdowns but also recording four pass breakups. He's lined up all over the formation as well, taking at least 10 snaps at five different positions. His most frequent spots on the field are free safety (87 snaps), box safety (70 snaps) and slot corner (46 snaps).

The Lions could be without their starting cornerbacks for the game. The Lions brought in CB D.J. Reed from the Jets this offseason to help shore up the cornerback room. Reed gave them a solid return early, grabbing an interception and allowing 11 receptions on 18 targets before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4 that will cause him to miss time. 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold has struggled to start the season, allowing the second-most yards in coverage in the NFL (255), per PFF. He injured his shoulder in Week 4 putting his status in jeopardy this week.

What to Watch For

By: Diego Branda

Defense Seeks More Turnovers

Cincinnati's defense has recorded five interceptions this season, tied for the fourth-most in the NFL through four weeks of play. The Bengals logged two picks in each of the first two games, spearheading a 2-0 start, but have since been able to grab just one over the past two contests.

The challenge this week comes in the form of a Detroit passing attack that ranks among the league's best in several metrics. Quarterback Jared Goff boasts a 73.8 completion percentage (second in NFL) and has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of nine to two, while as a team the Lions are 10th leaguewide in net passing yards per game (226.0).

Dating back to the start of the 2022 season, the Bengals are 17-1 when recording two or more interceptions. In addition to its pick total this year, Cincinnati also has 17 total passes defensed, led by five from DJ Turner II (tied for sixth-most in NFL).

Chase, St. Brown Take Center Stage

Sunday features two of the league's top performers at the wide receiver position in Cincinnati's Ja’Marr Chase and Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown. Both have flashed their Pro Bowl talent through the first four weeks, with Chase's 14 receptions in Week 2 against Jacksonville still ranking as the most by any player in a game this season, and St. Brown leading the way in touchdown catches with six.

Chase and St. Brown entered the league together in 2021, and since the start of their rookie campaigns they have cemented themselves near the top of the NFL in every major receiving category. In that span, Chase has the league's most touchdown grabs (47), while ranking third in yards (5,689) and sixth in total catches (421). St. Brown is first in catches (457), sixth in yards (5,158) and fourth in touchdowns (39).

Chase has earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of his first four seasons, and last year received first-team AP All-Pro status for the first time in his career. St. Brown was voted to the Pro Bowl in each of the past three years and is a two-time first-team All-Pro (2023-24).

Taylor-Campbell Reunion

Zac Taylor and Dan Campbell will meet for the second time in their head coaching careers, but their history in the NFL dates back to over a decade ago in Miami. The two were on the Dolphins' coaching staff together for four seasons (2012-15), with Taylor primarily working with the team's quarterbacks and Campbell overseeing the tight ends. In 2015, following an in-season coaching change, Campbell took over as interim head coach while Taylor served as interim offensive coordinator.

Their previous meeting as full-time head coaches came in Week 6 of the 2021 season, when Taylor led the Bengals to a 34-11 road win over Campbell and the Lions.

Bengals Aim for 3-0 in Stripe The Jungle Games

Sunday marks the third Stripe The Jungle game at Paycor Stadium, as fans are encouraged to wear orange or black apparel based on their seat location to create the iconic taped Bengal tiger stripe pattern. Cincinnati has won the previous two contests which have featured this tradition, with a 24-18 victory over Buffalo in its debut in Week 9 of the 2023 campaign, and a 24-6 win over Cleveland in Week 16 of last season.

Cincinnati will wear black jerseys, white pants (orange stripes) and orange socks for the game. The Bengals have worn this combination 11 times since their uniform redesign prior to the 2021 season, and have compiled a 7-4 record in those games. The last time they featured this look was in last season's thrilling overtime win against Denver in Week 17.

Check out the Bengals 2025 Schedule.