[Stardust]

When The Bengals Run

In his past five games against NFC opponents, running back Cedric Benson is averaging 123.4 rush yards per game (617 total). In 27 regular-season games, Benson has run for more than 100 yards nine times, but not this season. His longest drought since he joined the Bengals is five games in 2008. Bernard Scott will continue to see spot duty and Brian Leonard will see time in third-down and short-yardage situations. Benson could get well against the fifth-worst team against the run: the Bucs are giving up an average of 4.8 yards per carry. Linebacker Geno Hayes is considered Tampa Bay's best run stopper. He's second on the team with 25 tackles and has five tackles for loss.

When The Bengals Pass

Carson Palmer has a 7-2 record at home against NFC opponents with 19 touchdowns against 10 interceptions for a 95.0 passer rating. Terrell Owens has three touchdowns in his last four games against the Bucs. With his 222-yard receiving game last week against Cleveland, Owens' per game average jumped from 51 yards to 93.5. In his last meeting against Tampa Bay in 2006, Chad Ochocinco had six receptions for 99 yards. Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber has an interception in two of three games this year. Aquib Talib has an interception in the last two games.

When The Bucs Run

Earlier in the week coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Greg Olson said the team would use multiple running backs. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, who ran for 94 yards in the 2006 game against Cincinnati, will l be the lead back but LaGarrette Blount and Kareem Higgins will play more snaps. Williams is averaging just 2.2 yards per carry while Blount had six carries for 27 yards and a touchdown in the Week 3 loss to Pittsburgh. In Pro Football Focus' rankings, Rey Maualuga (16 tackles) is ranked as the sixth-toughest linebacker against the run.

When The Bucs Pass

Josh Freeman has won four of his past six starts and has a three-game winning streak on the road. In his past three road games, Freeman has completed 60.5 percent of his passes and has a 87.2 rating. Fullback Earnest Graham is a receiving threat out of the backfield with nine receptions and a touchdown in his last two games. Rookie wide receiver Mike Williams (fourth round) has scored in two of three games. Tight end Kellen Winslow, who is tied for the NFC lead with 10 third-down receptions, had five receptions or more in his last four games against the Bengals when he played for Cleveland. Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is in a three-way tie for the league lead in interceptions with three, and has a pick in his last three games. The Bengals are last in the league in sacks (three) and have a ratio to one for every 46.67 attempts.

Special Teams

Bengals kicker Mike Nugent, who began last season with Tampa Bay, is 10 of 11 on field goals and had a string of nine straight ended with a second-quarter block last week in Cleveland. Tampa Bay's Connor Barth has made all five of his attempts, but is one of just two kickers in the league who does not have a touchback on a kickoff this season. The Bengals return units continue to struggle. They are 30th in punt-return average and 29th in kick-return average.

Even After Four

This is the seventh time in a non-strike year that the Bengals have started 2-2 and first time since 2001. In three cases, they finished with a winning record but in only one of those instances have they advanced to the playoffs (1973 when they went 10-4 and won the AFC Central). In '01, they went on to finish 6-10.

Home Is Good Vs. NFC

Since a 28-point loss to the Bucs here in 2002, the Bengals have gone 12-2-1 against the NFC. Under Marvin Lewis, they are 11-2-1 and unbeaten in their last five. Going back even further, to the Riverfront Stadium days, the Bengals are 23-9-1 (.712) at home against the NFC since 1993.

Coaches

Bengals: Marvin Lewis (58-59-1 overall) is in his eighth year. He is 0-1 against Tampa Bay. Lewis is 3-2 against the NFC South.

Bucs: Raheem Morris (5-14) is in his second season. This is his first meeting against the Bengals. He is 1-1 against the AFC North.

Series History

This is the 10th meeting between the teams; the Buccaneers lead the series 6-3. Tampa Bay has won five straight in the series.

At Cincinnati: Bucs lead 4-2 (3-2 at Riverfront, 1-0 at Paul Brown Stadium). The Bengals' last win was in 1989 when they won 56-23 at Riverfront. Tampa Bay's lone trip to Paul Brown Stadium was a 35-7 victory in 2002.