John Clay’s Sidelines

I’m at Paul Brown Stadium for Bengals-Bears:

• Bengals whip Bears 45-10.

• Benson finishes with 189 yards on 37 carries.

• Bengals will improve to 5-2 heading into bye week.

• Benson returned for an 8-yard run.

• Benson leaves in fourth quarter with career-high 172 yards on 31 carries.

• Palmer takes a seat after three quarters. His pass rating is 146.7.

• Bears finally find the end zone, going 60 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. Cutler hit Hester from 5 yards out with 11:48 left. Cincinnati lead now 45-10. Cutler is 26 of 36 for 248 yards, but has thrown three picks.

• Seven possessions, Bengals have six touchdowns and a field goal.

• Benson follows Peko’s hair — the defensive lineman lined up at fullback — for a 1-yard touchdown and Cincinnati is officially routing Chicago. It’s 45-3 Bengals over Bears with 14:57 left in the game.

• Benson pops a 26-yard run to Chicago 1-yard line on final play of third quarter. The ex-Bear has 152 yards on 28 carries as Bengals lead 38-3 at end of three.

• Cutler throws his third pick of the day. Crocker does the honors. Bengals have it with 3:05 left in third.

• Palmer throws for his fifth touchdown, hitting Ochocinco for his second and Bengals lead 38-3 with 4:48 left in third quarter. Palmer is a magical 19-of-22 for 221 yards to go with those four scores.

• Leon Hall stops Bears’ first drive of second half with his second interception of the day.

• Gould kicks 22-yard field goal on final play of first half, but Cincinnati takes a 31-3 lead into intermission. Cutler is 13-of-18 for 133 yards.

• After the Leon Hall pick and 23-yard return, Bengals settle for a 29-yard Graham field goal and a 31-0 lead with 1:10 left in half. Benson lost 3 yards on third-down run. Now has 98 yards on 20 carries. Palmer is 15-of-17 for 183 yards and three scores.

• Benson crosses 100-yard mark — 101 yards on 19 carries — with two minutes left in first half.

• Hall picks off a Cutler pass, off a Chris Crocker tip, with 2:06 left in half.

• Four possessions, four Cincinnati touchdowns.  Bengals drive 66 yards in 12 plays with Palmer hitting Coles on a wide receiver screen for a 6-yard touchdown and a 28-0 lead wwith 2:49 left in first half. This is a butt-kicking. Benson has 99 yards rushing on 18 carries against his old team. Palmer is 14 of 16 for 176 yards through the air.

• Three possessions, three Cincinnati touchdowns. Palmer throws for his third score, hitting J.P. Foschi for a 3-yard score and a 21-0 Cincy lead with 11:14 left in second quarter. Palmer is a sparkling 10-of-12 for 135 yards. Ochocinco has caught six passes for 77 yards. Palmer also hit Coles for a 29-yard gain on that drive.

• End of first quarter: Bengals 14, Bears 0.

• Second possession, second Cincinnati touchdown. Bengals march 80 yards for 14-0 lead. Score comes with Palmer hits Ochocinco from 8 yards out with 1:07 left in first quarter. Cedric Benson has 70 yards rushing on eight carries. Palmer is 6-of-7 for 76 yards. Ochocinco has caught four passes for 50 yards.

• On their first possession, Bears drive inside Bengals territory but stall at 45.

• Bengals drive 77 yards in eight plays on opening possession to take a quick 7-0 lead. Cedric Benson had a 23-yard run on the drive. Carson Palmer was 3-of-4 for 45 yards, including the 9-yard touchdown pass to Chris Henry with 11:00 left in first quarter.

• Cincinnati comes in at 4-2, off a 28-17 loss to Houston last week. Chicago is 3-2. The Bears lost 21-14 at Atlanta on Sunday Night Football last week.

• Cincinnati safety Roy Williams is among the inactives. Chindeum Ndukwe will start at strong safety in place of Williams.