"It puts us in a great position," said Chad Ochocinco, who had a season-high 137 yards on nine catches. "We don't have to depend on other people to win. We control our own destiny at this point. It's a very, very, very good feeling for us as a team and a city. It's pretty cool, man."

A commitment to running the ball has carried them to the doorstep of the playoffs. In each of the past three games, a different Cincinnati running back has topped 100 yards, the first time that's happened in the NFL since Green Bay did it in 2006.

Benson finished with 110 yards on 36 carries and became the focal point once Cincinnati got ahead.

"I love carrying the ball that much," Benson said. "It usually just means we're putting a team away, and I love putting teams away. You know, you've got to put the hay in the barn. That's what my old high school coach used to call it. And anytime we're carrying the ball that much, I think we're putting the hay away."

After a solid first quarter, the Lions (2-10) got put away in a game that ended badly for them. Rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford aggravated his injured non-throwing shoulder with 3:37 to go and didn't return.

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"We got that playing-to-the-level-of-our-opponents speech at halftime," Ochocinco said.

The first quarter of the Bengals' least-appealing home game - they needed an extension to sell out and avoid a television blackout - had fans wondering why they'd bought those tickets. Paul Brown Stadium filled with boos as the Lions outplayed the Bengals at the outset.

The Bengals got no pressure on Stafford, who had plenty of time to throw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson for a 7-0 lead. Cincinnati's offensive line got pushed around - Cincinnati managed only 47 yards in the opening quarter.

One play by a 6-foot-7 rookie changed the mood.

Third-round pick Michael Johnson batted one of Stafford's passes in the air, and defensive end Jonathan Fanene caught it cleanly, tucked the ball into the crook of his left arm and ran 45 yards untouched for his first career score.

Palmer's 36-yard touchdown pass to Ochocinco on the next series put the Bengals in control. It was only their third touchdown pass in the last five games, a sign of how much they've been leaning on the run this season.

Benson and the running game took it from there.

Notes

Lions CB William James suffered a pinched nerve in the second half, another blow to an injury-depleted defense. ... Rookie Bernard Scott and newcomer Larry Johnson also have run for more than 100 yards in the Bengals' past three games. Their seven 100-yard games overall this season also match the franchise record. ... Ochocinco hadn't caught a touchdown pass since Oct. 25 against Chicago, going the next four games without one.