"The statistics say the Lions ran the ball and stopped the run Sunday. Lions running back Kevin Smith averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Bengals running back Cedric Benson averaged 3.1.

But the Lions lost, 23-13. Smith's 16 carries for 75 yards weren't enough, and while the Bengals' running game didn't bust anything big, it got the job done.

"We lost," Smith said. "I don't know (that) progress is when you run the ball and lose."

Smith still struggled to break away in the open field. His longest run was 17 yards. But he gained a lot of tough yards inside.

"I thought he ran very hard today," coach Jim Schwartz said. "I thought he ran the football the way that we know he can run it. He picked up yards on his own. He ran physical. He didn't go down easily. I thought that was a very bright spot today.""