The Bengals are on the way to playing the Lions for the first time in eight years Sunday at Paycor Stadium (4:25 p.m.-Cincinnati’s FOX 19), but an AFC North game is likely to break out.

Hometown hero David Montgomery, the Lions' bruising running back from Cincinnati's Mount Healthy High School, leads Detroit's bite-a-kneecap-off mentality. Not to mention the NFL's sixth-ranked run offense fueling the No. 1 scoring offense.

"They're going to come in here and try to bully us," said Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson after Thursday's practice. "They're going to try and run the ball down our throat. We understand that. We've got to find a way to stop the run and put them in third-and-long. Get some TFLs so it's not even second-and-seven, but second-and-10."

The Bengals have a new acquisition used to such NFC North affairs involving Detroit. Nose tackle T.J. Slaton’s two highest snap counts last year playing for the Packers (54.4% and 53.8%) came in both games against the Lions. He had a total of seven tackles in games Green Bay held the Lions to two of their five fewest rushing games of the season with 111 and 124 yards.

The Bengals will take that against an offense averaging close to 140 per game with the 5-11, 230-pound Montgomery ripping off 5.7 yards per rush and the 5-9 202-pound Jahmyr Gibbs going for 4.7.

They're the only duo both with at least three rushing touchdowns this season.

"Maybe the best duo of running backs in the league," Wilson said. "Jahmyr is more of a scatback. Very shifty. Has a lot of juice. Montgomery is more of a downhill runner. He's going to try and run through your face. They complement each other well. They adjust the game plan to their strengths when they're in. They've been really good at that the last couple of years. We understand that."

They also understand that Lions head coach Dan Campbell, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor’s buddy from the Dolphins staff of the last decade, has a mantra.

"It's the epitome of the head coach just trying to punch you in the mouth," said Wilson, reciting the now famous kneecap line. "That's their mindset as a team and they kind of live that. They've got some trickery. Sometimes you know what's coming and they still punch you in the mouth. We've got to be more physical at the point of attack."

Another First For Ja'Marr

Ja’Marr Chase, the Bengals' All-Pro wide receiver, has performed many firsts in his five seasons.

Add another one.

Chase, in his first year as a captain, said he had some words for "my guys," after Monday night's game. On Thursday, he said he can't ever remember talking after a game.

"I'm sure he hasn't because he leads by example. He's not an extremely vocal guy. But you couldn't tell in that moment," said left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., a fellow captain. "It was an amazing speech of passion and emotion with a message I think needed to be said. If he didn't say it, I was going to say it."

Wide receiver Tee Higgins had never seen his friend do it, but he wasn't surprised.

"I always knew he had it in him," Higgins said. "Just being a leader. That's what the team needed. Someone like him to step up and speak. We're going to see how we respond."

Chase said Thursday he felt he's had to become more of a leader with quarterback Joe Burrow out of the lineup.

"To me, I think it speaks to his growth and the type of player he is," Brown said.

Chase says he doesn't mind a little fire and brimstone.

"I want guys to play with passion, I want them to play with anger because you never know how they'll respond," Chase said. "I told my guys that recently after the game."

Logan Look

Wilson, a defensive captain, is also trying to lead in his own way by making sure he's bringing the right approach to walkthroughs and taking care of his own game. He met with linebackers coach Mike Hodges after Monday night's game and asked him what he needs to improve on out of the first four games.

"I wrote those down on my iPad to make sure they're in the forefront of my mind going into the week," Wilson said. "Continue to try and be clean. In the walkthrough reps, we're trying to make sure we're not just going through the motions. Using good technique in the walkthroughs. Make sure that stuff translates into the game on Sunday and not getting lazy in the walkthrough."

So far so good.

"We're preparing the right way," Wilson said. "We're trying to be clean in our practices with our run fits. That's one thing that will take care of itself. When you have guys continuing to show up, continuing to put in the work every day."

Slants and Screens

Burrow is grinding through rehab, and a teasing Chase says he doesn't want to see him on the sidelines Sunday.

"Hell no. He's got to get ready. Don't come out there. They don't need to see you. They don't need to see your face. Just get healthy. Come back later," Chase said. "The more time he's sitting there watching us, the more time he's not working." …

Tight end Noah Fant (concussion) looks like he's on his way back after missing the Denver game. He went full in Thursday's workout …

It looks like rookie defensive lineman Shemar Stewart (ankle) is going to miss his third straight game. He didn't work again Thursday …

Wide receiver/returner Charlie Jones (Achilles) also missed a second straight practice and hasn't worked since getting nicked Monday night …

Defensive tackle B.J. Hill went limited after getting a rest day, which has been the pattern for him this season …

Cornerback Dax Hill, coming off ACL surgery, went limited …

So did backup center Matt Lee (ankle), who appeared to get hurt in practice …

According to Next Gen Stats, defending NFL sack champion Trey Hendrickson met Lions' No. 1 draft pick Penei Sewell back in the Bengals' win in Detroit in 2021. He lined up against Sewell on 16 pass rush snaps and had four pressures.

That's one of four games in Sewell's great career he has allowed at least 25% pressure rate against a pass rusher: Micah Parsons in 2023, Nick Bosa in 2024 and Everson Griffen in 2021 …