Coach Marvin Lewis ran down a list of backup players -- including quarterback Jon Kitna and linebacker Caleb Miller -- who were able to get on the field in the fourth quarter Sunday in the blowout at Detroit.

"In that fashion we got a chance to grow a little bit (Sunday) and get some other guys involved in the game," Lewis said.

The Bengals are deeper than in many pervious seasons, and their depth, obviously, has played a key in their success.

"When we're introduced as a team on offense before the game, we have 14, 15 guys come out because they feel like they're starters, making big contributions," Lewis said.

PLAYER PERSONNEL NOTES

--QB Carson Palmer still needs one 100.0-plus passer rating for his 12th this season and a new single-season NFL record.

--RB Rudi Johnson has 283 rushing yards on 57 attempts for a 5-yard average and three touchdowns in his past two home games. He needs one more rushing touchdown for a single-season career high of 13. Johnson needs 103 yards to pass his single-season franchise rushing record of 1,454 from 2004.

--WR Chad Johnson is trying to join Oakland's Tim Brown and San Francisco's Jerry Rice as the only players to lead their conference in receiving yards three consecutive years. Brown and Rice led their conferences from 1993-95.

With 1,260 yards in 14 games, Johnson needs 96 to break his single season career high of 1,355 from 2003.

--LB Odell Thurman leads the team with 131 tackles on defense and, with five interceptions, needs just one to surpass the franchise rookie record he shares with Tommy Casanova (1972) and Ray Horton (1983).

--OT Willie Anderson anchors a line that has allowed just four sacks in the past five games and is on pace to set club records for fewest sacks in a season (21) and sacks per game (1.29).

GAME PLAN
The Bengals need the game to stay in the chase for the No. 2 AFC playoff seed, so Marvin Lewis won't allow a letdown. But there's a chance the Bengals could be flat coming off their AFC North title-clinching game Sunday at Detroit. The Bengals should be able to run the ball against the last-ranked Bills run defense. The Bengals will have to stop the Bills' run game, though it's ranked 21st at just 98.6 yards a game. The Bengals are 18th against the run at 112.9 yards a game.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Bengals DBs vs. Bills QB Kelly Holcomb. In his last start against Bengals, for the Browns, Nov. 28, 2004, Holcomb threw for a career-high 413 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. That game was won 58-48 by the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals lead the NFL with 30 interceptions, and 22 of them are by defensive backs.

Bengals RB Rudi Johnson vs. Bills DTs Sam Adams and Tim Anderson. Johnson needs 148 yards to reach 1,500. Johnson could have room on Saturday. The Bills come in ranked last in the NFL in rush defense at 144.3 yards a game. Adams, playing the key left defensive tackle position, has just 12 total tackles this season. Anderson has been playing well, with consecutive seven-tackle games. He has 30 total tackles.

INJURY IMPACT

--WR Chris Henry's status for the game Saturday remains up in the air. "You'll see Saturday," coach Marvin Lewis said. The rookie wide receiver was arrested last week and changed with marijuana possession. Henry did not play at Detroit on Sunday, a decision Lewis said was disciplinary.

--LB Odell Thurman (neck stinger) is questionable. He did return to practice Thursday.

--DT Jonathan Fanene (hand) is probable and did practice Thursday.

--LB Marcus Wilkins (hand) is questionable. He did not practice Thursday. Wilkins is the team's leading special teams tackler with 17.

--TE Reggie Kelly (wrist) is questionable. He was hurt at Detroit, and x-rays were negative, coach Marvin Lewis said. Kelly did not practice Thursday.

--RT Willie Anderson (knee) is probable. He did return to practice Thursday.

--LT Levi Jones (elbow) is probable. He did practice Thursday.

--WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (foot) is probable. He was injured at Detroit but returned to the game. He practiced Thursday.