Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals: How to watch and 3 things to watch in the Week 5 matchup

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● What: Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals

● When: Sunday, Oct. 5, 4:25 p.m.

● Where: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati

● How to watch: Fox (Krugler/Johnston/Williams)

● How to listen: 97.1-FM The Ticket in Metro Detroit or any number of network affiliates around the state.

● Line: Lions -10.5

● Injury report: The Lions have ruled out running back Sione Vaki, linebacker Zach Cunningham (hamstring) and cornerback Khalil Dorsey (wrist). Safety Kerby Joseph (knee) and offensive tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) are questionable after being limited during the week of practice.

The only Bengals player of note ruled out for the matchup is rookie defensive end Shermar Stewart. He is dealing with an ankle injury.

● Officiating assignment: Carl Cheffers’ crew. A referee since 2008, Cheffers will be officiating his 14th Lions game on Sunday. The most recent that he worked with the team was last year’s 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans.

● Last meeting: The Bengals bested the Lions, 34-11, in 2021. The loss dropped the Lions to 0-6 on that season, while the Bengals moved to 4-2 in the early stages of the team’s unexpected Super Bowl run.

Three things worth watching

● Amik Robertson, you’re the next contestant on the NFL’s most popular game show, “Next Man Up.”

After DJ Reed landed on injured reserve with a hamstring strain this week, Robertson will shift over from his slot responsibilities to the outside, where he’s arguably been more effective during his six-year career.

Robertson made the same switch as an injury replacement late last season, filling in for Carlton Davis III after the starter broke his jaw making a tackle. In one of the more memorable performances from the 2024 season, Robertson more than held his own against Justin Jefferson with the division title on the line in the finale, limiting the Vikings star to two catches for 48 yards on six targets.

It’s unclear if the Lions will ask Robinson to travel against the Bengals, like Reed has been doing the previous two weeks. If the fiesty veteran draws that assignment, he’ll be tasked with a Jefferson-esque challenge of slowing four-time Pro Bowler JeMarr Chase.

● With Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals have one of the best receiving tandems in the NFL. Pair that duo with third-year running back Chase Brown, who racked up 1,350 yards and 11 touchdowns from scrimmage a year ago, and you’re at what should be a potent offense.

However, the group the finished that finished sixth in scoring last season is currently ranked 30th, mustering a meager 15.3 points through the first four games.

That’s a symptom of facing a stingy Browns defense in the opener, then losing Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow to turf toe a week later.

Without Burrow, the Bengals’ playmakers are struggling to make plays. Chase has 73 yards the past two weeks, Higgins has four catches for 47 during that same stretch, and Brown hasn’t been able to get going all year, averaging a brutal 2.3 yards per carry.

Detroit, which is coming off a stellar defensive effort against another struggling offense, will be looking to keep Cincinnati’s studs in their rut for at least one more week.

● Detroit, which leads the NFL in scoring, posted 34 against that talented Browns defense that held the Burrow-led Bengals to 17 in Week 1. That’s impressive output, but not reflective of Detroit’s offensive struggles in the matchup. More than half of the production against the Browns came via drives starting deep in opposing territory following a turnover or Kalif Raymond’s punt return for a touchdown.

In last week’s win, the Lions’ high-octane attack had just one drive of 50 or more yards, were inefficient running the ball, turned it over once, and finished six-of-15 on third and fourth down.

Regardless, like the team’s offense, the Bengals defense is struggling to begin the season, giving up nearly 400 yards and 30 points per game. They’ve played poorly against the run, rank 30th on third down and are bottom-10 in the red zone.

If the Detroit offense needed a get-right matchup, this is it.