Lions’ win over Bengals ends 33-year drought
November 1992 was a memorable month. Whitney Houston’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You” dominated the charts, debuting just before a heated presidential election. Going into Sunday, it also marked the last time the Detroit Lions had beaten the Cincinnati Bengals.
That near 33-year skid finally ended on Sunday, as the Lions triumphed 37-24, snapping a seven-game losing streak to Cincinnati. The Bengals were missing star quarterback Joe Burrow, but his backup, Jake Browning, still challenged Detroit’s injury-depleted secondary. Browning tossed three touchdown passes, briefly reviving fears of another 28-3 collapse among Lions fans.
However, Browning also threw three interceptions and surrendered a late, game-clinching safety. Lions quarterback Jared Goff matched him with three TDs of his own, posting a 153.0 passer rating. Goff was sacked four times, breaking a streak of three straight games without one. Cincinnati native and running back David Montgomery added a rushing touchdown and threw one himself on a trick play.
The win pushed Detroit to 4-1, tying them for the best record in the NFC with division leaders the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Francisco 49ers.
Three decades of heartbreak finally ended
Sunday’s contest marked the 14th all-time meeting between these teams, with the Bengals joining the league in 1968. Their first clash came in September 1970, when the Lions routed the Bengals 38-3. Shockingly, that remains the only Lions win over Cincinnati in Detroit.
The Lions took their second victory in 1974, then dropped three straight before finally winning again in 1992. In that 1992 matchup, kicker Jason Hanson nailed four field goals, while Barry Sanders ran for 151 yards and a score as Erik Kramer led the Lions to a 19-13 win. Their 1998 meeting saw the teams trade touchdowns, but Corey Sawyer’s 58-yard interception return in overtime sealed a 34-28 Bengals win.
Modern heartbreak is just as painful for Lions fans. In 2013, Matthew Stafford rallied Detroit from a 21-10 deficit, only for Mike Nugent to kick the game-winner as time expired. Their last clash in 2021 was a 34-11 blowout, fueling early drama in the infamous 2021 draft debate.
The Lions’ longest active winless streak against any team now belongs to the Pittsburgh Steelers, whom they haven’t beaten since 1998. Detroit is 0-5-1 since then but gets another shot in Week 16. The Steelers also remain one of the three teams Jared Goff has yet to defeat.
As for the Bengals, they still hold a 10-4 series lead, aided by that seven-game run. But that fourth Detroit win, 33 years in the making, might be the most significant one of all.
