CINCINNATI — Forget the final score and the final quarter and the late defensive lapses and the relatively uneven offensive performance, because none of that negates this truth:

The Detroit Lions don’t play down to their competition. Not under Dan Campbell. Not since he has lifted them into the national NFL conversation.

Here they were again on Sunday, Oct. 5, on a national broadcast – for the third time this season – and though Joe Burrow’s absence cut the sizzle, the country isn’t just tuning in to watch the Cincinnati Bengals ’ "Joe Cool" quarterback.

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