Cincinnati @ Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 12, 2014 ) Carolina 37, Cincinnati 37

The Cincinnati Bengals will try to weather a storm of injuries and remain among the ranks of the unbeaten when they visit the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Consecutive 34-23 wins over Indianapolis and Baltimore have the Bengals on the verge of their third 3-0 start in the last five years, but health is becoming a concern.

Starting running back Joe Mixon is out up to four weeks following knee surgery, backup Giovani Bernard (knee) was limited in practice Wednesday and rookie center Billy Price is out at least two weeks due to a foot injury. "It's just the next-man-up rule," Bernard told reporters of the running back situation. "When one guy goes down, you just have to pick it up and get ready for it. … It is what it is. When your opportunity comes up, just take advantage of it." The Panthers will be trying to bounce back from a 31-24 loss at Atlanta last week. They lead the NFL in yards per carry (5.4) and running back Christian McCaffrey is making a big contribution in the passing game with 20 receptions, second-most in the league entering Week 3.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Panthers -3. O/U: 44

ABOUT THE BENGALS (2-0): Andy Dalton threw for 265 yards and four touchdowns - three to A.J. Green - in the win over the Ravens in last week's Thursday night game, and he has confidence in Bernard's ability to help keep the machine working. "Gio is such a smart player," Dalton told reporters. "He understands every aspect of the position. He knows what we are doing in the run game, pass game, protections and all of it. I definitely have a comfort level with him back there." The Bengals signed former Seattle running back Thomas Rawls on Wednesday to back up Bernard.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (1-1): Cam Newton was 32-of-45 for 335 yards and three TDs while contributing a team-high 42 rushing yards in last week's loss to the Falcons, and the former NFL MVP is completing 69 percent of his passes in new offensive coordinator Norv Turner's system. "He's made a lot of good decisions these first two games," coach Ron Rivera told reporters. "I'm real excited about the progress Cam has shown in terms of understanding and getting a feel for what coach Turner wants." McCaffrey matched the franchise record with 14 receptions against Atlanta and also tied for the most catches by a running back in a game since 1981.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The last meeting in 2014 resulted in a 37-37 tie.

2. Green needs two TD catches to tie Carl Pickens (63) for second on the franchise's all-time list. Chad Johnson tops the list with 66.

3. Panthers LB Luke Kuechly, a Cincinnati native, enters Week 3 ranked fourth in the NFL with 21 tackles, while Bengals LB Nick Vigil is tied for fifth with 20.

PREDICTION: Panthers 26, Bengals 21