By LARRY LAGE

DETROIT (AP) – The Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals have been on the wrong side of NFL history so far this season.

The Lions became the first team to lose two games in the same season on winning kicks over 50 yards in no time, and they did it in three weeks.

The Bengals (3-2) were part of the first game marred by three potential winning field goals that were missed in the fourth quarter or in overtime.

Sunday at Ford Field, the two teams have the opportunity to recover from a crushing defeat.

Detroit (0-5) might not be favored to win one of its remaining games, leaving open the possibility of the franchise having the 0-17 debut season, 13 years after enduring the NFL debut season 0-16. .

After watching the Lions on film, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins insisted he saw a very good team.

“It won’t be fun,” Higgins said. “The record says 0-5. They obviously lost by winning field goals and things like that.

Detroit lost its last game when Greg Joseph of Minnesota put in a 54-yard field goal with no time left. In Week 3, Baltimore’s Justin Tucker scored a league record with a 66-yard field goal at the end of the time limit.

Even though coach Dan Campbell is in his first year at the helm of the franchise, he knows that many of his fans have suffered many setbacks over the decades.

“Nothing that I’m going to tell them is going to make them feel better,” said Campbell. “All I can do is try to prove it.”

Cincinnati rookie kicker Evan McPherson is eager to prove he can get the job done after missing field goals in late regulation and overtime against the Packers.

EARTH BOULÉ

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is expected to play after a precautionary trip to the hospital following last week’s loss to the Packers. The second-year quarterback was hit in the throat at one point and it affected his ability to speak. Burrow, who plays on a surgically repaired left knee, has been sacked an average of three times per game during his career.

Burrow’s biggest hit against Green Bay appears to have been when he ran over a third and long and was tackled by two defenders. Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor told Burrow he shouldn’t have put himself in that position.

“He wants to help the team get the first downs,” Taylor said. “But at the same time, it’s part of protecting our football team because we need him to play and not be exposed to unnecessary blows.”

SHORT

Lions quarterback Jared Goff averages just 6.6 yards per attempt, his lowest since being a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams in 2016, to rank 25th in the NFL .

Goff’s precarious accuracy, his nearly three-game sacking and a lackluster group of wide receivers contributed to the problem.

“I’m trying to find the guy who’s open to every game,” Goff bristled. “If that happens all the way down the pitch, that’s the guy. If it isn’t, then it isn’t. “

MORE FROM MIXON

Bengals running back Joe Mixon had just 10 carries for 33 yards last week as he continued to recover from a sprained ankle, and should be busier in Detroit.

“He’s got good energy and seems to be moving pretty well,” Taylor said.

Mixon missed most of last season with a foot injury.

CAREER YEAR

Lions linebacker Charles Harris is playing as Miami hoped after he drafted him with the No. 22 overall pick in 2017.

Harris already has a career-high four sacks, surpassing his three-season tally with the Dolphins. His four-sack streak is tied for the longest in team history.

Harris, Chicago’s Khalil Mack and Carolina’s Haason Reddick are the NFC’s three linebackers with a four-game sack this season.

TRAINING CONNECTIONS

Campbell was just starting to coach a little over a decade ago when he met Taylor, who was a graduate assistant to then-Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman.

“I quickly learned, ‘OK, this kid is pretty smart,'” recalls Campbell, 45, who is seven years older than Taylor.

When Campbell was interim coach at Miami in 2015, Taylor was their offensive coordinator and the defensive coordinator was Lou Anarumo, who currently heads the Cincinnati defense.

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