NFLGame PreviewsDET VS CIN Preview Week5 05-Oct-2025

Game Preview of Detroit Lions @ Cincinnati Bengals. Week 5 of 2025 NFL Season

DET logo

DET

3-1-0
@
05OCT25
04:25pm
CIN logo

CIN

2-2-0
Paycor Stadium

Game Preview

The Detroit Lions travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals on Sunday at Paycor Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM ET in Week 5. Detroit sits at 3-1, winners of three straight, while Cincinnati has spiraled to 1-3 after two blowout losses.

The Lions have turned into one of the league’s most balanced teams. Jared Goff leads an offense averaging 34.2 points per game, while the defense has been dominant up front behind Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit’s offensive line has yet to allow a sack in three games, a first in franchise history.

Cincinnati is stuck in survival mode. Joe Burrow’s season-ending turf toe surgery forced Jake Browning into the lineup, and the results have been rough. In two starts, Browning has thrown for just 265 yards with one score and two picks. The Bengals have scored only 13 points combined in those games.

Oddsmakers make Detroit a heavy road favorite at -9.5 (-139). The total is set at 48.5, with the Lions projected to push the pace against a Bengals roster full of injuries.

Current Season Form

DET logo

DET

Away
Record:3-1-0
ATS:3-1-0
O/U:2-2-0
CIN logo

CIN

Home
Record:2-2-0
ATS:1-3-0
O/U:2-2-0

Head-to-Head Summary

Record:
0-5Winner logo
ATS:1-4-0
O/U:2-3-0

Past Results

DateOpponentResultATSO/U
2025-09-29@ DENL 3-28L 7.5u44.5
2025-09-21@ MINL 10-48L 3.0o41.5
2025-09-14vs JAXW 31-27W +3.5o49.5
2025-09-07@ CLEW 17-16W +-5.5u47.5
2025-01-04@ PITW 19-17W +-2.5u48.5
2024-12-28vs DENW 30-24W +3.5o50.5
2024-12-22vs CLEW 24-6W +10.0u46.5
2024-12-15@ TENW 37-27W +-6.0o46.5
2024-12-09@ DALW 27-20W +-5.0u51.0
2024-12-01vs PITL 38-44L 3.0o46.0

Key Insights

 

  • Detroit converts QB pressures into sacks at a 9.9% rate, best in the NFL. The Bengals allow sacks on nearly 10% of dropbacks, bottom tier.

  • The Lions finish drives, scoring touchdowns on 70% of red-zone trips. Cincinnati’s defense allows TDs on 66.7% of red-zone stands.

  • Detroit’s offensive line is elite in protection, giving up a sack rate of just 3.2%. The Bengals’ pass rush has been weak at 3.8%.

  • Bengals receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins remain dangerous, but Detroit’s secondary is thin with D.J. Reed on IR and Kerby Joseph and Terrion Arnold questionable.

  • Lions are built to hit explosive runs (5.9% rate, 78th percentile), while Cincinnati’s offense ranks bottom three in explosive run rate.

  • Detroit’s defense is excellent at stuffing short-yardage plays (69.2% stop rate on 3rd and short, 100th percentile). That creates tough situations for Jake Browning.

 

Betting Insights

 

  • Spread: Lions -9.5 (-139). Detroit has covered in three straight games, while Cincinnati has been outscored 76-13 in their last two.

  • Total: Under 48.5 (-111). Bengals haven’t topped 20 points since Week 1, and Browning struggles to move the ball.

  • Anytime TD: Jahmyr Gibbs -250. He dominates red-zone usage for the league’s most efficient red-zone offense.

  • Prop: David Montgomery Over 50.5 rushing yards (-118). Faces a Bengals front missing multiple guards and giving up big runs.

  • Prop: Amon-Ra St. Brown Over 71.5 receiving yards (-120). Bengals secondary allows 8.4% explosive passes.

  • Prop: Jake Browning Under 226.5 passing yards (-161). He’s averaging just 132.5 yards in two starts.

  • Anytime TD: Ja’Marr Chase +160. Still elite, and Detroit’s secondary injuries give him a shot at a big play.

 

Final Summary

The Lions enter this matchup as one of the NFC’s hottest teams. Jared Goff is playing efficient football, the backfield of Gibbs and Montgomery is thriving, and Detroit’s offensive line is dominating games. Even with injuries at cornerback, the Lions look like a balanced contender.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, is in free fall. Jake Browning has been unable to move the ball, and the offensive line is battered. Even with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the outside, the Bengals have been stuck in neutral.

Detroit’s pass rush against Cincinnati’s O-line could decide this game quickly. Hutchinson and company have the edge, and if Browning falls behind, it could get ugly.

The market reflects the gap. Detroit is favored by more than a touchdown, and the total sits near 48.5. With the Bengals struggling to score, the under is in play. Detroit looks poised to snap a 33-year drought in Cincinnati and extend their early-season surge.

Statistical Battle Boards

Viewing: CIN Offense vs DET Defense
Offense team logoOffense
Defense team logoDefense
StatisticOffenseRankDefenseRankAdvantage
Total Points61#3088#18DET advantage
Total Points Per Game15.3#3022#16DET advantage
Total Touchdowns7#2611#23DET advantage
Passing Touchdowns5#267#21DET advantage
Rushing Touchdowns2#264#16DET advantage
Other Touchdowns0#280#20DET advantage
Total Kicking Points19#3222#28DET advantage
Total Two Point Conversions0#200#31CIN advantage
Kick Extra Points7#2410#11DET advantage
Offense team logoOffense
Defense team logoDefense
StatisticOffenseRankDefenseRankAdvantage
Net Passing Yards621#30796#20DET advantage
Net Passing Yards Per Game155#30199#20DET advantage
Passer Rating74.8#3095.1#14DET advantage
Passing Attempts120#24118#10DET advantage
Completions75#2674#26🏈
Completion Percentage62.5#2362.7#10DET advantage
Passing 1st downs33#2841#16DET advantage
Passing 1st Down %58.9#658.6#23CIN advantage
Longest Pass42#2548#17DET advantage
Passing Fumbles Lost2#41#7CIN advantage
Receiving Targets114#22117#21DET advantage
Receptions75#2674#7DET advantage
Receiving Yards After Catch332#28306#4DET advantage
YAC Average4.4#274.1#6DET advantage
Offense team logoOffense
Defense team logoDefense
StatisticOffenseRankDefenseRankAdvantage
Rushing Yards200#32376#7DET advantage
Rushing Yards Per Game50#3294#26DET advantage
Rushing Attempts76#3298#9DET advantage
Yards Per Rush Attempt2.6#323.8#26DET advantage
Rushing 1st downs14#3222#12DET advantage
20+ Yard Rushing Plays0#322#16DET advantage
Long Rushing12#3228#21DET advantage
Rushing Fumbles0#322#16DET advantage
Rushing Fumbles Lost1#132#5DET advantage