Carolina Panthers (3-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-1)

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati – TV: FOX

*TV announcers: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale

*Keys to the game: The Panthers’ vaunted ground game has been decimated due to injuries to their top three running backs and QB Cam Newton’s mobility being heavily restricted by nagging injuries. Carolina has rushed for fewer than 100 yards in four consecutive games for the first time since 2005, but some combination of Jonathan Stewart, if healthy, Fozzy Whittaker and whoever else the Panthers can stand up in the backfield must do some damage against the NFL’s 27th-ranked run defense. The Bengals expect to get LB Vontaze Burfict back, but the Panthers don’t want to fall behind and try to force the ball downfield against a defense with six picks and eight sacks.

Conversely, Carolina’s once-stout run defense is ranked 23rd in the NFL allowing 121 yards per game. The Bengals will alternate RBs Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill, looking to set up play-action. QB Andy Dalton is likely to be without WR A.J. Green (toe), but he has been sacked just once all season and is 11-0 with a 97.7 passer rating in his pass 11 regular-season home games. Dalton is highly efficient at home and will be content to play a field position game unless Carolina proves it can move the ball.

*Matchup to watch – Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin vs. Bengals CB Terence Newman: The 6-5, 240-pound Benjamin was a controversial first-round pick, but he has 24 catches for 367 yards and three TDs. He won’t line up exclusively against Newman, but does hold a seven-inch height advantage over the 12th-year veteran.

*Player spotlight – Panthers CB James Dockery: He failed to make the 53-man roster, but the veteran was brought back this week with Bene Benwikere and Josh Norman unable to man the nickel package due to injuries.

*Fast facts: The Panthers are 0-2 against the AFC North this season, losing by a combined 46 points to the Steelers and Ravens. … The Panthers have forced 10 turnovers in their three wins. They have no takeaways in their two losses. … Cincinnati seeks its 12th consecutive regular-season home win. … Carolina’s next five opponents all reached the 2013 playoffs and have a combined record for 15-8 this season.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

Bengals players openly offered for fans upset with last week’s blowout loss at New England to jump off the bandwagon. An elite team with a chip on its shoulder is a dangerous obstacle for a beat-up team like Carolina.

*Our pick: Bengals 26-19