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Disappointments meet in Cincinnati

Dec 9, 2007 - 12:39 PM St Louis (3-9) at Cincinnati (4-8) 1:00 pm EST

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Bengals are headed toward their first losing season since Marvin Lewis arrived as coach in 2003.

Looking to avoid clinching a losing record, the Bengals host the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

Prior to Lewis' arrival, the Bengals were a perennial laughingstock, endured six straight seasons in which they finished below the break-even mark.

Under Lewis, the Bengals have finished at .500 three times to go along with an 11-5 campaign in 2005 when they reached the playoffs. The Bengals need to run the table to reach .500 this season.

A major reason for the Bengals' struggles this year has been a porous defense which allows 26.3 points to rank 29th overall.

Last week, the Bengals actually forced four turnovers but still suffered a 24-10 loss at Pittsburgh. That setback could be attributed to an awful game for Carson Palmer, who completed 17-of-44 passes for 183 yards.

It also has been a difficult campaign for the Rams, who dropped their first eight games. However, St. Louis has won three of its last four contests.

Gus Frerotte threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns and Steven Jackson rushed for 96 yards and a score to lead the Rams to a 28-16 win over Atlanta last week.

Frerotte started in place of Marc Bulger, who was out with a concussion, but suffered a shoulder injury himself late in the third quarter.

With Frerotte and Bulger out, Brock Berlin, who never has attempted a pass in an NFL game, will make his first career start. Berlin was activated from the practice squad on November 27.