Quick Take: Bengals-Raiders

In Brief

» Last meeting:Carson Palmer passed for 297 yards and two touchdowns as the Bengals clobbered the Raiders, 27-10, on Dec. 10, 2006.
» Streaks: The Raiders have won three of the past four and have a 19-8 overall series edge, including the playoffs.
» Last week: Cincinnati completed a sweep of rival Pittsburgh with an 18-12 victory. ... Oakland was undone by a series of drops in a 16-10 loss to Kansas City.

Keep your eye on ...The Bengals' maturity: Cincinnati has firmly established itself as the favorite in the AFC North. It is 5-0 in the division, and has already swept its two chief rivals, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The reeling Raiders should not present much of a challenge to the Bengals, but they have not been in this position much before, so they must avoid a letdown after last week's emotional win.

Cincinnati's cover corners:Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph have played so well this season that many are considering them to be one of the best, if not the best, cornerback tandems in the NFL. They should have little trouble containing Oakland's undistinguished cadre of receivers.

Richard Seymour's veteran presence: Seymour, an ex-Patriot standout, is one of the Raiders' few players that has tasted winning at the NFL level. With the team mired in a three-game losing skid, it is up to Seymour to keep his teammates focused.

Did you know?

The Bengals have a chance to win five road games in a row for the first time in club history. ... Cincinnati's Jonathan Fanene has a career-high five sacks this year. ... The Raiders are 8-0 all-time against the Bengals at home.