Cincinnati Bengals (3-1-1) at Indianapolis Colts (4-2)

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis – TV: CBS

*TV announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Jenny Dell

*Keys to the game: Pierced by Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers for 37 points last week, the Cincinnati defense is reeling in part due to penalties (13 for 119 yards vs. Carolina) but has also been gouged by big plays.

Colts QB Andrew Luck, whom Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said does more at the line of scrimmage pre-snap to find mismatches than any quarterback in the league, leads the NFL in touchdown passes (17) but is also capable of scooting out of harm’s way as Newton did last week.

Already thin at linebacker with starters Emmanuel Lamur and Rey Maualuga unlikely to play after leaving the Carolina game with injuries, look for the Bengals to spend most of the game in their nickel package to try to deal with the Colts’ high-powered passing attack.

Minus WRs A.J. Green (foot) and Marvin Jones (IR), the Bengals will try to build on a running game that has looked much better the past two weeks. Not only will that offset missing Green for a second consecutive game, it will limit the number of touches Luck and Co. can have and lower the likelihood of the game turning into a shootout, which would not favor the Bengals.

Protecting QB Andy Dalton, sacked a league-low two times, remains a focus with the Colts coming from all angles. Three players have three sacks and the Colts have 17 total. But the Bengals are morphing into a run-first outfit with Giovani Bernard and rookie Jeremy Hill forming a potent 1-2 punch.

*Matchup to watch – Colts C Jonotthan Harrison vs. Bengals DT Geno Atkins: Harrison is an undrafted rookie who took the starting job from A.Q. Shipley on merit but is still making a few mistakes, coach Chuck Pagano acknowledged. Luck has been sacked seven times and is too willing to stare down the pass rush at times. Atkins is agile and powerful but is still working his way back from a 2013 knee injury.

*Player spotlight – Bengals WR Mohamed Sanu had a career day (10 catches, 120 yards, touchdown) last week with Green out. He draws clingy Colts CBs Vontae Davis and Greg Toler, who have combined for four interceptions this season. Sanu is unlikely to see bracket coverage with the Colts concerned about Bernard’s versatility.

*Fast facts: WR Reggie Wayne needs 20 receiving yards to surpass James Lofton (14,004) for eighth place all-time. … Bernard is the only player in the NFL with at least 375 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns and 175 yards receiving. He had 148 yards from scrimmage against the Colts last season.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

The Colts are over their old ways of waking up in the second quarter and with a fast start at home, take the Bengals out of a run-heavy game plan.

*Our pick: Colts 27-17