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Slumping Bengals square off with Chiefs

Oct 14, 2007 - 10:35 AM Cincinnati (1-3) at Kansas City (2-3), Sunday 1 p.m. EST

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - The Cincinnati Bengals are hoping a bye week reverses their recent struggles.

Mired in a three-game losing streak, the Bengals visit Arrowhead Stadium for the third straight season to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Since opening the season with a 27-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati has tumbled to three straight defeats, allowing 109 points in the process.

The Bengals' normally high-powered offense also struggled in the last loss, a 34-13 setback to the New England Patriots, leading to bickering among star wideout Chad Johnson and quarterback Carson Palmer.

Coach Marvin Lewis, seeking to avoid the first four-game losing streak of his five-year tenure, also ripped into the team following that contest.

Cincinnati will look to follow the lead of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who came off a bye week to win at Kansas City, 17-7, on Sunday, and snap the Chiefs' modest two-game winning streak.

Last season, the Bengals beat the Chiefs, 23-10, in the season opener, spoiling Herm Edwards' coaching debut with the franchise.

Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh form one of the most potent wide receiving tandems in the league. Palmer has completed 63 percent (101-of-161) of his passes with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Running back Rudi Johnson sat out Cincinnati's loss to the Patriots with a hamstring injury, ending a streak of 64 straight starts.

The Bengals are hoping to get the three-time 1,000-yard rusher back against the Chiefs, otherwise Kenny Watson will start in his place.

Kansas City has injury concerns of its own after Damon Huard was knocked out of Sunday's game in the fourth quarter with a right shoulder contusion. Huard went 19-of-30 for 196 yards before being replaced by Brodie Croyle.

Ironically, Huard moved into the starting lineup last season after Trent Green suffered a severe concussion after enduring a vicious hit from Bengals defensive end Robert Geathers.

The running game also must get back on track, as Larry Johnson was held to just 12 yards on nine carries. The Bengals have allowed three consecutive 100-yard rushers, including a 216-yard performance by Jamal Lewis in a 51-45 loss to Cleveland in Week Two.

One of the few bright spots Sunday was tight end Tony Gonzalez, who hauled in eight catches for 100 yards and remains tied with Shannon Sharpe for first all-time among tight ends with 62 touchdown passes.