Cowboys vs. Bengals: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info, Game Time and More

Week 14 of the NFL season will feature a matchup between two playoff hopeful teams and rare bout between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys.

Over the history of both teams, there have only been 10 meetings between the Bengals and 'Boys, with the latest being played back in 2008.

Both teams are in desperate need of a victory to better ensure a postseason appearance. Expect a true gridiron battle at Paul Brown Stadium come this Sunday.

Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

When: Sunday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. EST

Watch: Fox

Live Stream: NFL Sunday Ticket

Radio: 700 WLW-AM (Cincinnati) or KTXX-FM (Dallas)

Betting Line: Cincinnati (-3), according to Bet Online

Injury Report

*As of 12/3/12

Cincinnati Bengals

DB Dre Kirkpatrick, Concussion

TE Richard Quinn, Hamstring

WR Mohamed Sanu, Foot

Dallas Cowboys

S Charlie Peprah, Foot

NT Jay Ratliff, Groin

CB Orlando Scandrick, Hand

What's At Stake?

It's simple, really. In the timeless words of Jim Mora Sr., "playoffs!" The Bengals and Cowboys are both in contention to win either their respective division crown or a conference wild-card spot.

If the Bengals get the victory, they'd get one game closer to the Ravens' No. 1 spot in the AFC North while putting pressure on fellow rival Pittsburgh to win its game.

A win for the Cowboys would mark the team's fourth win in five games and push one step closer to the Giants' NFC East lead. It would also put Dallas in prime position for an NFC wild-card spot pending what the Buccaneers, Seahawks among others do in Week 14.

Both teams are fighting for their postseason lives but also a certain amount of respect from around the league. The Cowboys have been seen as a team that melts down in December for years. The Bengals are a young team looking to show they're no longer "up-and-coming" and have arrived as a true threat.

Fantasy Plays

Cincinnati Bengals: TE Jermaine Gresham

You could make the argument for Andy Dalton here, and A.J. Green is an obvious start, but don't sleep on the Bengals tight end. Jermaine Gresham has quietly been one of his position's most reliable touchdown sources over the recent weeks.

Dalton has targeted his tight end at least five times in every game this season and has thrown five touchdown passes to him this year. Three of those touchdowns have come in the last four weeks of play.

Gresham isn't one to light up the stat book with yardage with just one 100-plus-yard game on the year. Still, what he lacks in yardage he makes up with end-zone catches, which is what every fantasy manager wants from all his players.

If you're not a Dalton or Green owner, Gresham is the best Bengal left to start and could very well get his fourth touchdown catch in five weeks.

Dallas Cowboys: WR Dez Bryant

The Cowboys are known for their big-name offensive players but none have been as productive as Dez Bryant lately.

Half of his 100-plus-yard receiving games have come in the last three weeks, as have six of his eight touchdowns.

Bryant used to have to fight it out with Jason Witten and Miles Austin for targets, but lately Austin has been out of this mix. Witten will always be quarterback Tony Romo's safety blanket, but when Romo wants to go deep he's looking more and more to Bryant.

There are few receivers that have been on as big a role as Bryant over the past three or four weeks. Whether the Bengals stick former Cowboy Terence Newman or another corner on Bryant this Sunday, it won't matter; he'll still produce big numbers.

What They Are Saying

The Cowboys' head coaching job has been debated through out this season. Many have wondered if owner Jerry Jones would part ways with Jason Garrett after this year, and it appears Andy Reid may have interest if that happens.

The current Philadelphia Eagles head coach recently had a source close to him leak information to The Times of Trenton's Mark Eckel.

Eckel's source told him that they wouldn't be surprised to see Reid in Dallas, saying:

"

I know a lot of people think Andy is going to San Diego next year, and I can see that happening, but I keep hearing Dallas. I think he can end up with the Cowboys. As a matter of fact, I think he will end up with the Cowboys, if Jason [Garrett] is fired.

"

In Bengals news, avid fan and former 98 Degrees member Nick Lachey was shown the door early at the Bengals-Chargers game last weekend.

Not exactly the biggest NFL or even celebrity news, but it's a tad hilarious that not only was Lachey kicked out, he didn't even get an owner's box invite! The former boy band member took to Twitter after the ejection to explain what happened:

"

i simply don't appreciate someone turning around and putting their finger in my face. call me crazy, but that deserved a reaction.

— Nick Lachey (@NickSLachey) December 3, 2012"

Key Matchup: Cowboys' secondary vs. A.J. Green

It's no secret that the Bengals passing attack runs through the Dalton to Green connection and the Cowboys' secondary needs to neutralize that to win.

Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne need to be all over Cincinnati's No. 1 receiver in this game. The Bengals do have other weapons like Gresham and BenJarvus Green-Ellis but those two are able to do what they do thanks to the attention Green receives.

Dallas owner Jerry Jones spent a whole lot of money on the cornerback position last offseason bringing in Carr, drafting Claiborne and keeping Mike Jenkins. Those three corners need to earn their paychecks in full this week, as they face off against one of the league's deadliest receiving threats.

Prediction

Defensively, these teams are close to even, but offensively is where the Cowboys have a key advantage.

With DeMarco Murray back at running back, Dallas revived its run game last week against Philadelphia. Having that option in Garrett's playbook allows the Cowboys to fully operate their high-powered offense.

Murray showed in Week 13 he's about back to his old self and will do so against the Bengals this week as well. With the running game working, the Cowboys will be able to stretch the field to Bryant and Austin pending pass protection for Romo.

The Bengals aren't an easy team to knock off, especially on their home turf during a four-game winning streak. Still, these Cowboys seem to have a fighting passion to make the playoffs the Bengals wont be able to overcome in this contest.

Prediction: Cowboys 28, Bengals 27