Detroit Lions vs Cincinnati Bengals Prediction, Odds and Picks for Sunday, 10/05/25

We’ve got one of the league’s best teams here against one of the league’s worst as the Detroit Lions take on the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals have completely collapsed since Burrow’s injury, getting absolutely pummeled by both the Vikings (with Carson Wentz at QB) and the Broncos. Even as a large home underdog, I have zero interest in backing them. They got annihilated by the Vikings in Jake Browning’s first start, and it wasn’t because Wentz magically started playing like it was 2018 again.

Wentz only threw for 173 yards, and the Vikings still managed to put up 48 points because of how bad Browning and the Bengals’ offense were. I was willing to be charitable and chalk it up to first start of the season jitters and thought Browning might bounce back last week against Denver, but that certainly didn’t materialize. He managed not to throw any picks this time, but got nothing going through the air and the Bengals finished with just 3 points. In his two starts, Cincy has lost by a combined score of 76-13. And the Lions are a team that is more than capable of running up the score against an inferior opponent.

Detroit has scored 34+ points in three straight games, so if there’s any team in the league that I’m comfortable laying double digits with it’s them. 2 of those 3 games they won by 24+ points, and the other was an 8 point road victory against the Ravens. Outside of a Week 1 disappointment where they lost on the road in Green Bay in their first game with two new coordinators, the Lions have looked like arguably the best team in the league. The Bengals have a huge weakness on the offensive line, and Detroit has one of the best pass-rushes around as they have the third-most sacks in the league. Everything here points toward this one being lopsided.

Lions -10.5 at publishing.

The over also makes some sense here, as the Lions have showed they’re capable of sending this one over by themselves even if we don’t get much scoring from the Bengals. Detroit has scored 34+ in three straight, including a 52-point eruption against Chicago. Meanwhile the Bengals have been a sieve, giving up 76 points the last two weeks. Jake Browning has been a turnover machine with 5 picks on only 84 pass attempts, creating plenty of easy scoring opportunities for opposing offenses.

And Browning should have a bit more success here leading the Bengals’ offense now being back at home. As bad as it has been for him the last couple of weeks, he has been facing elite Vikings and Broncos defenses and should have at least some room for improvement here. The Lions have been vulnerable through the air and are giving up 7.6 yards per pass attempt this season, so Ja’Marr Chase should finally be able to get going here. Given that the Bengals can’t run the ball at all and Detroit has some question marks in the secondary, I think they’ll be chucking it here.

Over 49.5 at publishing.