The Bengals, make their fourth visit to Indianapolis in five seasons as these teams battle for the eighth consecutive season and the 10th time in 11 years.

Including playoffs, the Colts own an 11-8 overall edge in the series standings and have prevailed in six of the last nine encounters dating back to 1989, the latest a 39-26 triumph last season (Week 15) at the RCA Dome.

Despite last year's setback, the Bengals are 3-1 lifetime at the RCA Dome dating back to 1987 as the visiting team has won 11 of the last 13 meetings between these clubs dating back to 1981, when the Colts resided in Baltimore.

Numbers: After committing just one turnover in their first five games (2-3) in '98, the Bengals have committed 34 turnovers in their last 17 games (2-15) dating back to '98. The Bengals have been limited to 17 or fewer points in four straight games. They have allowed three or more sacks in five straight games.

After throwing just three touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in his first four games, Colts QB Peyton Manning has thrown 34 TD passes and 24 interceptions in his last 17 contests dating back to '98, throwing two or more touchdown passes in 11 of his last 16 games. However, Manning has thrown two or more interceptions in 8 of his last 14 contests. After allowing an AFC-high 62 sacks in 16 games in 1997, the Colts have allowed just 24 sacks in their last 21 games dating back to '98. After allowing 11 sacks in their first four games in 1998, the Colts have allowed just 13 sacks in their last 17 contests, giving up zero sacks in 11 of those 17 contests. The Colts have outscored the opposition a combined 34-9 in the first quarter in five games in '99.

Things To Look For: Bengals rookie QB Akili Smith and his receivers took their lumps against the Steelers' physical secondary , but it's Cincinnati's disappointing defense that will have their hands full this week against the Colts' much-improved offense. And if Bengal defenders couldn't stop a less-than healthy Jerome Bettis, it figures to be an even longer day against Colts' rookie RB Edgerrin James.

Etc.: The Colts have won three games, equaling their victory total in 1997 (3-13) and '98 (3-13). The Bengals are just 18-29 under Bruce Coslet dating back to '96. Over the past nine years (1991-99), the Bengals are a combined 12-58 over the first half of the season. Since 1994, (including playoffs), 52 of the Colts' 89 games have been decided by seven or fewer points, six of those in overtime.