--The Lions are the Bengals' most-played opponent in preseason (35 games), but Detroit and Cincinnati are meeting for only the 10th time in the regular season. The first game of the series, on Sept. 27, 1970, was played at Tiger Stadium, which the Lions won, 38-3. It was the first year after the NFL-AFL merger, and it was the Bengals' first game against an old-line NFL team. --The last three meetings in the series have been in Detroit, with the Lions not having a regular-season game in Cincinnati since 1992. They are the last team to be playing their first regular-season game at Paul Brown Stadium, which opened in 2000. In four previous games in Cincinnati, the Bengals and Lions have split the four games. --Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and Lions first-year coach Jim Schwartz have a long friendship. Schwartz served as Lewis' defensive assistant when he was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore.
When Schwartz became the coach in Detroit, Lewis was one of the first people he called for advice.
"He's been a good friend for a long time and I think he's an excellent football coach," Lewis said. "We talked once he got the job and as he was putting his staff together and some things he was looking to do and he asked a couple questions. He's really a smart, smart person. We'd be on vacation and Schwartzie would have his laptop out and he'd be working on an opponent while he was with the Titans. So, he's a hard working guy and you can see as I talk about him it brings a smile to my face. Just in every way, I was very fortunate enough to have him."
--Chad Ochocinco is an admirer of Detroit receiver Calvin Johnson. So much so that he would like a nickname, too (as if changing his last name wasn't enough).
"I want a name. They call him Megatron, so I want a name too, like Ochotron or like Optimisttron," he said during a conference call with Detroit reporters.
Ochocinco was also asked about his opinion of Tiger Woods.
"I love Tiger. Man, I could care less what he did," Ochocinco said. "He's a great golfer. He's still an idol of mine. He's still the best at what he does. I mean, he's human. We all make mistakes. I could care less. It's his household. Other than that, because of the figure that he is, it's being blown out of proportion, so it is what it is. We are all human."
BY THE NUMBERS: 27 -- Games since a Bengals quarterback has thrown for 300 yards in a game. Carson Palmer threw for 316 in the 2007 season finale at Miami.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I've said it time and time again, I'd love to go out and throw the ball all over the place like it's a 7-on-7 drill. But whatever helps us and puts us in position to win -- if that's running the football, I'm more than happy with it. We used to be a run-second, pass-first and take a bunch of shots, but that was five years ago." -- QB Carson Palmer, on the Bengals becoming a run first team.
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