Detroit Lions vs Cincinnati Bengals Picks and Prediction for Thursday August 13 2026
The Detroit Lions visit the Cincinnati Bengals for an NFL preseason matchup at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET, with FOX19 and the Bengals Preseason TV Network providing regional coverage. Cincinnati is a 3.5-point favorite, while the total is set at 37.5. Football bettors can find additional analysis throughout the season by visiting our free NFL picks.
Traditional team statistics carry little value in the opening week of the preseason. The more important factors are each coach’s playing-time plan, the quality of the backup quarterbacks, and which team appears more committed to winning rather than merely evaluating its roster. Cincinnati holds an early advantage in those areas because its offensive starters are expected to participate.
Lions Begin Evaluating Their Offensive Depth
Detroit enters its sixth season under head coach Dan Campbell with one of the NFC’s more established starting lineups. However, Campbell had not confirmed how extensively his starters would play when this preview was written. Jared Goff and the rest of the first-team offense could receive a short tune-up, but the majority of the quarterback work should belong to Teddy Bridgewater and rookie Luke Altmyer.
Bridgewater gives the Lions an experienced option capable of managing a simplified preseason offense. His familiarity with NFL defenses should help Detroit avoid some of the communication problems that frequently affect teams during their first exhibition game. Altmyer represents the more important developmental storyline, as Detroit must determine whether the rookie is ready to handle a roster spot behind Goff and Bridgewater.
The Lions also have several reserve skill-position players competing for opportunities behind an established group. Detroit’s ability to run the ball and avoid turnovers will determine whether it can remain within the number after the starters leave. The concern is that Cincinnati could build an early advantage while using its first-team offense against a Detroit defense that may rest or quickly remove several established contributors.
Bengals Plan to Give Their Starters Live Repetitions
Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor has indicated that the Bengals will play their starters in the preseason opener. That should give Joe Burrow at least a short opportunity to operate with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and the remainder of the first-team offense. Even one or two productive possessions from that group could be significant in a game with a total of only 37.5 points.
Burrow’s participation does not mean Cincinnati will maintain its offensive advantage throughout the night. The Bengals must also evaluate the competition behind him, where Jake Browning and Trevor Siemian provide experienced options. Browning has previously played meaningful regular-season snaps in Cincinnati’s system, giving the Bengals a backup quarterback who should be comfortable directing the offense against Detroit’s reserves.
The home team also has considerable motivation to assess its defensive depth. Cincinnati has devoted much of the offseason to improving a unit that has prevented the team from consistently converting offensive production into victories. Preseason football will not reveal whether the defense is ready for the regular season, but the reserve groups should play with urgency as several roster positions remain undecided.
Detroit Lions vs Cincinnati Bengals Picks and Prediction
- Pick: Cincinnati Bengals -3.5
Cincinnati is the preferred side because its confirmed plan to use the starters provides the clearest early advantage. Burrow and the first-team offense should be capable of producing points against Detroit, particularly if Campbell limits the participation of his defensive starters. In a preseason game, one touchdown drive against a reserve-heavy defense can create meaningful separation.
The quarterback depth also favors Cincinnati. Browning already understands the offense and has demonstrated that he can execute it in regular-season competition. Siemian supplies another veteran option for the later stages of the game. Detroit has experience with Bridgewater, but Altmyer could receive a substantial second-half workload while adapting to the speed and complexity of his first NFL preseason game.
Laying more than a field goal in an exhibition game is never especially comfortable. However, Cincinnati’s combination of first-team participation, experienced reserve quarterbacks, and home-field familiarity makes the Bengals the more trustworthy selection.
- Pick: Under 37.5
The under is the preferred total despite the likelihood that Cincinnati’s starters will generate early scoring opportunities. Both coaching staffs should become increasingly conservative as the game progresses. Extended drives, basic rushing concepts, and efforts to evaluate offensive linemen are more valuable to coaches than producing an aggressive fourth-quarter passing attack.
Detroit should lean heavily on its running game once Goff leaves, especially when Altmyer enters. Cincinnati may follow a similar approach after Burrow and the primary receivers complete their planned work. Backup offensive lines also frequently struggle with penalties and pass protection during the opening preseason game, making it difficult to sustain scoring drives.
Cincinnati has a realistic opportunity to establish an early lead, but the pace should slow considerably during the second half. The Bengals can cover without this game reaching 38 combined points.
Final Score Prediction: Cincinnati Bengals 23, Detroit Lions 13