Riding a wave of momentum, the Detroit Lions are eyeing a fourth straight victory as they prepare to face a reeling Cincinnati Bengals team on Sunday. After a season-opening loss at Green Bay, Detroit (3-1) has bounced back in dominant fashion, outscoring its last three opponents — Chicago, Baltimore, and Cleveland — by an average of 20 points per game.
Quarterback Jared Goff, who has helped lead the Lions to an offensive resurgence, isn’t underestimating the Bengals (2-2) despite their recent struggles.
“These guys are not even close to being a bad team,” Goff said. “Certainly, on defense they present some challenges for us on offense that we have to handle. There’s no way we could take them lightly in any way.”
The Bengals have looked lost since star quarterback Joe Burrow went down with a toe injury in Week 2. In the two games since, Cincinnati has been outscored 76-13, including a 48-10 loss at Minnesota — the worst defeat in franchise history — and a 28-3 drubbing in Denver on Monday night.
The Lions are averaging 41.3 points per game over their three-game win streak, thanks in part to the consistency of Goff and a dominant offensive line that hasn’t allowed a sack in three consecutive games — a franchise first since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
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Fifth-year wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to play at an elite level. He has 27 receptions for 307 yards and six touchdowns this season and has scored in three straight games. His production has drawn comparisons to the all-time greats.
“He’s a throwback player playing in today’s society,” said assistant head coach Scottie Montgomery, who likened St. Brown’s competitive edge to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
St. Brown’s statistical start to 2025 is the best since Randy Moss in 2007, a season that saw Moss and the New England Patriots go undefeated in the regular season.
Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson enters Sunday on a three-game sack streak, fueling a defense that has put significant pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The running back tandem of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs continues to give defenses fits, combining power, speed, and elusiveness.
That could spell trouble for a Bengals defense that has struggled mightily with missed tackles — giving up a league-high 303 rushing yards due to poor tackling over the last two weeks.
Jake Browning, filling in for the injured Burrow, has thrown five interceptions in three appearances and two starts. The offense ranks last in the NFL in plays per drive and has gone 3-and-out on 52 percent of its possessions over the past two games. The defense has also suffered, being on the field for an average of 34:27 per game.
Receiver Ja’Marr Chase, typically the focal point of the offense, has been limited to just 99 yards over the last three games combined. His frustration boiled over on the sidelines last week in Denver, following another quiet outing.
“I think we can throw it to him 20 times and it still won’t be enough,” said offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher. “If we’re going to improve, the road to improvement certainly goes through Ja’Marr Chase.”
The Lions are in rare form. With Goff thriving, the offensive line dominating, and their top weapons producing at an elite level, Detroit looks every bit the contender many projected in the offseason. The Bengals, on the other hand, are desperate to avoid a complete collapse in the absence of their franchise quarterback.
A lopsided result Sunday could solidify the Lions’ status as NFC frontrunners — and raise more red flags about Cincinnati’s long-term outlook without Burrow.
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