Backup safety Derron Smith added a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown midway through the second quarter against Lions backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky, and AJ McCarron hit rookie Tyler Boyd with a 12-yard touchdown pass to cap a textbook two-minute drive that sent the Bengals into halftime with a 20-6 lead.
Dalton completed passes to four different receivers on the opening drive, including a 26-yarder on the run to Boyd, who made a diving catch to covert a third down.
A 14-yard pass to Brandon Tate converted a third-and-1 on the play prior to Hill’s touchdown, which was a cakewalk into the end zone as Andrew Whitworth, Clint Boling and Russell Bodine blew open the left side of the Lions defense.
The Bengals had two early scoring opportunities in last week’s 17-16 loss to Minnesota but came away empty on both.
Thursday, the Cincinnati defense forced the Lions to settle for a pair of field goals following a couple of promising drives. Matthew Stafford hit former Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones on three consecutive plays to get Detroit to the Cincinnati 5 on the opening drive of the game, but it ended with a Matt Prater 24-yard field goal.
After Smith’s pick-6, Orlovsky drove the Lions to the Cincinnati 12 before Prater came in to boot a 30-yarder with 4:36 left before the break.
Dalton played three series, going 7 of 9 for 78 yards. Boyd had two catches for 38 yards and the score, while Rex Burkhead lead ground game with 27 yards on three carries.
McCarron was 5 of 8 for 51 yards on the late touchdown drive.
Starters sit: In addition to linebacker Vontaze Burfict, whom coach Marvin Lewis has said will not play in the preseason, three other starters were on the announced list of players not expected to play — wide receiver Brandon LaFell, right tackle Cedric Ogbuehi and tight end Tyler Eifert
Also on the list of players not expected to play were wide receivers Mario Alford and Jake Kumerow, tight end Tyler Kroft, cornerbacks Darqueze Dennard and William Jackson, defensive tackles Brandon Thompson and Andrew Billings and kicker Zach Hocker.
Injuries: Jake Fisher, who started at right tackle for the injured Cedric Ogbuehi, suffered a right leg injury on the first play of the second offensive drive and left the field on a cart for precautionary x-rays. He did not return.
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