By Blessing 
This Bengals Stat Since Joe Burrow Injury Will Boost Lions’ Confidence
The Cincinnati Bengals have been in serious trouble since losing star quarterback Joe Burrow to a turf toe injury.
Burrow went down in Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and ever since, Cincinnati has been struggling to stay competitive. In their two most recent outings, the Bengals were routed by the Minnesota Vikings, 48-10, and then dropped a lopsided 28-3 contest to the Denver Broncos on Monday night.
Without Burrow leading the offense, Cincinnati has been completely outmatched, getting outscored 76-13 in the last two games. Backup quarterback Jake Browning has yet to find a rhythm, finishing the stretch with just 506 passing yards, three touchdowns, and five costly interceptions.
For the Detroit Lions, those numbers offer a clear advantage heading into Sunday’s matchup. While the NFL can always surprise, Detroit should feel confident about handling a Bengals squad that has looked flat on both sides of the ball.
Bengals’ Post-Burrow Issues
Had Burrow been healthy, Sunday’s clash would have carried far more intrigue. Instead, the Lions now face a Cincinnati team missing its most important player, and fans in Detroit won’t mind seeing their team take advantage. A win would lift Detroit to 4-1 on the year and further cement their status as an NFC contender.
That said, Cincinnati still has enough talent to make things interesting. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson is a real threat to disrupt the Lions’ offensive line, which has yet to allow a sack this season. And offensively, wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins remain dangerous weapons who can test Detroit’s secondary if Browning manages to connect with them.
Browning has shown glimpses in the past. In 2023, for example, he helped a Burrow-less Bengals team compete against the Kansas City Chiefs, where they nearly pulled off an upset before losing 25-17.
Looking Back at Lions vs. Bengals
The last time these two franchises met was in Week 6 of the 2021 season, back in Dan Campbell’s first year as Detroit’s head coach. That afternoon, the Bengals rolled to a 34-17 win at Ford Field. Cincinnati went on to reach the Super Bowl, falling just short against the Los Angeles Rams, 23-20. Detroit, meanwhile, finished that year with a 3-13-1 record before drafting Aidan Hutchinson second overall in 2022.
Now, just a few years later, the Lions find themselves as heavy favorites—something few would have imagined back then. With Burrow sidelined and Cincinnati reeling, Sunday could be the perfect chance for Detroit to prove how far they’ve come.